Mobile Legends: Bang Bang may have crowned its new Queens of the sport.This, after Smart Omega Empress (OMGE) dethroned stalwarts, Team Vitality (VIT), to take the MLBB Women's Invitational (MWI) 2024 and write history as the first Filipino team to win a tournament at the Esports World Cup.The all-Filipino team executed a clean sweep over their Indonesian rivals in the Best-Of-Five (BO5) Grand Finals, ending their 24-match winning streak dating back to 2021.OMGE Roamer, Meraaay said during the post-match press conference: “We want to give honor to our country. I hope we made our kababayans (countrymen) proud, including those who went to the venue to support us. It feels like a dream for all of us. We would like to take our hats off to Team Vitality who gave us a good fight. We can already call ourselves world champions."

Olympic basketball in the 2024 Paris Games has been off to a hot start, with ball clubs from different nations slugging it out for a chance to qualify for the medal rounds and call themselves the world’s best.Australia and Spain will open the men’s tournament in the Group Phase A while Group Phase B will begin with the battle between Japan and Germany to be followed by Brazil meeting the host team France in the main game.  Australia opened the Men’s Basketball tournament with a bang by defeating world’s No. 2 Spain 92-80 in the Group A phase.NBA veteran Patty Mills opened the scoring for the No. 5 ranked Aussie team by converting three free throws followed by Jock Landale three pointer to have a 6-0 lead early in the opening frame.The Boomers erected a double-digit lead in the 1st half of play but Spain refused to give up and even took the lead for a while before the Aussies put the game away during the final frame.Josh Giddey, Jock Landale and Patty Mills combine for 56 of Australia's 92 points in their Group A win.The debuting Giddey wrote himself into the record books by becoming the first player to combine 15+ points, 7+ rebounds and 7+ assist in his first game at the Olympics, putting his name alongside the legendary Drazen Petrovic who made the same feat in 1984 against Italy.

Philippine female gymnasts gave a good account of themselves during the qualification round of the women’s artistic gymnastics in the 2024 Paris Olympics held at the Bercy Arena.Levi Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo, and Aleah Finnegan all had their moments; they all failed to advance to the next round by not entering the top eight of any of the events and falling short of making it to top 24 in the all-around.Jung-Ruivivar and Malabuyo both totaled 51.099 points in the all-around, while Finnegan tallied 50.498.Jung-Ruivivar, the youngest member of Team Philippines at 18 years old and who recently anaphylactic shock caused by her allergies just days before the competition, posted 13.600 in vault, 13.200 in uneven bars, 12.433 in floor exercise, and 11.866 in balance beam.On the other hand, Malabuyo netted 13.266 points in vault, 13.100 in floor exercise, 12.500 in uneven bars, and 12.233 in balance beam, while Finnegan averaged 13.387 in vault and scored 12.733 in floor exercise, 12.566 in uneven bars, and 11.466 in balance beam.Despite being eliminated early, the trio still showed gallant effort and made history for the country as the Philippines waited for 60 years for a female gymnast to see action in the Olympics once again. Maria Luisa Flora and Evelyn Magluyan represented the Philippine team in the 1964 Tokyo Games.With the three booted out of the competition already, the task of winning the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in gymnastics fell on the shoulders of Carlos Yulo, who advanced to the men’s all-around, floor exercise and vault finals.The debuting trio however are still optimistic to do better in their craft and look forward to another Olympic stint in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.

It took Akari import Oly Okaro just two matches to etch her name in the record books of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).The American import showcased her scoring prowess in the Chargers’ last two games, dropping a couple of 30-point outings to power their reverse sweep victories against fancied rivals, Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz, to keep their tight grip on the top spot in Pool B.The 28-year-old opposite hitter’s 38-point explosion in the hard-earned triumph against the Flying Titans duplicated the league’s fifth-highest single-game scoring output set by Creamline’s Tots Carlos in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference in March.Okaro’s strong and remarkable offensive front earned her the conference’s second PVL Press Corps Player of the Week award presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of 23 to 27 July.Her brilliance outclassed Cignal’s MJ Perez, Capital1’s Marina Tushova, and Choco Mucho’s Royse Tubino as she received the unanimous vote from online, broadsheet, and tabloid reporters covering the professional volleyball league.

Philippine gymnastics golden boy Carlos Edriel Yulo has booked a ticket to three Olympic events on his turf - all-around, floor exercise, and vault during the men’s artistic gymnastics qualification held at the Bercy Arena in Paris.The 24-year-old Yulo placed second in  the floor exercise with a score of 14.766, then sixth in the vault with a mark of 14.683 and performed in all events to get the 9th spot for the all-around with a score 83.631.On the other hand, Caloy failed to advance in the parallel bars - an apparatus where he won silver in the 2021 World Championships and gold in the 2022 Asian Championship. He scored 14.533 after his routine with a difficulty of 6.000. In the rings he scored 13.000, and 13.466 in the horizontal bar but not enough to advance to the finals. He also failed to advance in the pommel horse - the one they called his “kryptonite” with the score of 13.066.The single events target was to make it to top eight, and be part of the overall top 24 gymnasts for the all-around event. As Yulo qualified for three finals events, he surpassed his 2020 Olympics stint with one finals appearance in the vault. This time, he has three chances to get a medal for the men’s artistics gymnastics.Carlos Edriel will have his first shot at gold on July 31 at 11:30 p.m. PHT, with the individual all-around event. The floor exercise final will commence on August 3 at 9:30 PM PHT, while the vault final is set on August 4 at 10:24 PM PHT.

Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch are on the mission to end a near-century long drought as they represent Philippine swimming in the 2024 Paris Olympics.Swimming is considered as one of the richest sources of medals for multi-sports events like the Olympics and with the Philippines making great use of the country’s geography to produce exceptional tankers. Teofilo Yldefonso started the trend of Filipino success in swimming - and in the Olympics overall - by being the first Filipino and Southeast Asian Olympic medalist.He nabbed two bronze medals when he bannered the country in men’s 200 meters breaststroke in both 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games.Since then, however, the Philippines has been in a constant search of that next great swimmer, one that both Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch would like to snap in Paris.

The 37th Thai King’s Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship will lose some of its lustre as Indonesia and Philippines, semifinalists in the regu event at the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) Sepaktakraw World Cup last May, have officially withdrawn from the tournament. ISTAF secretary-general Abdul Halim Kader announced that the Indonesian Sepaktakraw Association withdrew from the King’s Cup to focus on the 21st National Sports Week in the republic from September 8 to 20.However, the Philippine Sepaktakraw Association did not provide any reason for their withdrawal by the final registration deadline on July 14.

Association of Boxing Alliance of the Philippines’ (ABAP) chairman Ricky Vargas expects the five-strong Philippine boxing team to bring home a medal from the Paris Olympics.“Minimum two golds,” said Vargas. “Podium finishes for all five are very possible. They’re prepared, they’re ready. They went through a lot to get to where they are, to represent the country in the Olympics.” The fighting five are lightheavyweight (80kg) Eumir Marcial, featherweight (57kg) Carlo Paalam, lightflyweight (50kg) Aira Villegas, featherweight (57kg) Nesthy Petecio and middleweight (75kg) Hergie Bacyadan.Marcial, 28, earned his ticket by making it to the final of the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year while Villegas, 28, and Petecio, 32, got their passes at the first World Qualifying Tournament in Italy last March. Paalam, 25 and Bacyadan, 29 booked their slots at the second World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok last June.The boxing tournament in the Summer Games begins July 27 and ends August 11 when Philippine delegation flag-bearers Paalam and Petecio, and the rest of the team go for gold if they make it all the way to the final.

The Samahan ng Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio might be disappointed that Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics but still optimistic that they can work on to reach the ultimate goal of making it to the Los Angeles Games in 2028.Earlier this year, Gilas head coach Tim Cone said that “The ultimate goal for the SBP is to make it to the LA Olympics, I think that’s the ultimate goal. That’s what they are looking for,”They have tried to reach the Olympic goal this year in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) held in Latvia. They upset the host team and FIBA’s No. 6 ranked team during their match-up in the group stage.Gilas was defeated by the No. 23 ranked Georgia narrowly in their next assignment ending in a three-way tie at their group but superior quotient points gave Latvia and the Philippines the advantage of moving to the next round. In the crossover Semis, the No. 37 ranked Philippines bowed down to No. 12 ranked Brazil who overcame a double-digit lead in the first half. Brazil eventually won the OQT in Latvia after defeating the host team in the finals.Panlilio might be disappointed that the nation’s pride team didn’t make it to Paris but he has seen a glimpse of hope for the team’s future endeavors especially in targeting the ultimate goal of making it to the LA Olympics. 

Filipino Olympian and boxers Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial earned byes for the first round of their respective events as the brackets for the Paris Olympics boxing competitions were determined on Thursday, July 25.Marcial (men’s 80kg) and Paalam (men’s 57kg) advanced to the round of 16 as they both begin their golden quests on Wednesday, July 31.Paalam, who moved up in weight after bagging silver in the men’s 52kg category in Tokyo, will go against Ireland’s Jude Gallagher, a gold medalist in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.On the other hand, Marcial tangles with Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev, who earned a bronze medal in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.The draw has also put Marcial for a potential rematch with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak three years after the Filipino obtained bronze following a split decision loss in their semifinal bout in Tokyo.Debuting in the Games, Hergie Bacyadan, meanwhile, got dealt a tough hand as she faces a tall order in the women’s 75kg after being drawn with top seed Li Qian of China for their round of 16 duel on Wednesday, July 31.Li boasts of impressive credentials, winning an Olympic bronze in Rio de Janeiro and silver in Tokyo on top of gold medals in the Women’s World Boxing Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Amateur Boxing Championships.Meanwhile, Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57kg) and Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg) begin their respective campaigns in round of 32.Villegas will be the first Philippine boxer in action as she fights Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki on Monday, July 29, before Petecio opens her bid of improving the silver she won in Tokyo against India’s Jaismine Lamboria on Tuesday, July 30.The boxing competition runs until August 10.\

The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) has announced that all games scheduled for Thursday, July 25, have been canceled due to the inclement weather brought by Typhoon Carina.The league made the announcement on Wednesday, prioritizing the safety and well-being of players, staff, and fans.In a statement, the league said, “Due to the inclement weather brought by Typhoon Carina, all Premier Volleyball League games scheduled for Thursday, July 25, have been postponed and will be moved to a later date. Stay safe and dry.”PLDT was supposed to face Farm Fresh at 1:00 pm at the PhilSports Arena with the High Speed Hitters looking to continue their unbeaten start that saw them clinch two wins. Meanwhile, the Foxies would have been looking to get their breakthrough after falling 0-2 in Pool A.Creamline and Nxled were also scheduled for their 3:00 pm encounter with Cool Smashers eyeing for back-to-back wins while the Chameleons were vying for their second win in three games.Chery Tiggo, who are also undefeated in Pool A with a 2-0 slate, were originally set to slug it out against Galeries Tower at 5:00 pm.The league will announce the rescheduled dates for these matches at a later time.

Newly-elected PBA vice chairman Alfranchis Chua is pushed to take over the national basketball team executive duties as success has been inevitable to Gilas when he took over the chores.Chua as an executive in-charge for the national basketball team took the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year after the 61 year drought of the country in claiming the championship of the quadrennial meet.Leading the call are PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, SBP president and Gilas head coach Tim Cone.Vargas said he witnessed himself on how Chua provided hand-on leadership that eventually led to the victory of the team, “A strong Gilas team benefits PBA and a strong PBA benefits Gilas so it’s mutually beneficial,” said Vargas who’s also SBP vice president. He added , “About 70 percent of Gilas is from PBA. We’re recruiting better players and now, naniniwala na tayong lahat that we can compete against the best in the world. We proved that in the OQT in Latvia. We’ve observed that when Gilas players return to the PBA, they’re more confident, they’re better because of the experience. A clear example is Chris Newsome who led Meralco to the Philippine Cup championship after a stellar performance in Hangzhou. We’re changing the Gilas culture and we’re earning a different respect from our opponents.”The PBA chairman also pointed out that Gilas is ranked No. 37 in the FIBA rankings but has recently defeated No. 6 Latvia, almost upsetting No. 12 Brazil and No. 23 Georgia. The national team also defeated No. 27 Iran in the Asian games classification round, upsetting the host team and No. 29 China in the semis, and beating No. 32 Jordan in a defensive-oriented finals to win the gold.Panlilio on the other hand said Gilas missed Chua in Latvia and he would’ve surely made an impact if he was present in that OQT (Olympic Qualifier Tournament). “We need my tokayo with Gilas,” he said. “He knows basketball more than I do. I told Alfrancis that I’ll be there for him, I’ll be on the admin side and he can take charge of the team like he did in Hangzhou. He knows how to encourage and motivate the players like nobody else. Alfrancis treats everyone equally, walang lumalamang, there is parity and a real sense of brotherhood.”Chua couldn’t join Gilas in Latvia because of his work commitments at San Miguel Corp. where his responsibilities are beyond sports as he also assists chairman Ramon S. Ang in special projects like the NAIA rehab, building a new airport in Bulacan and streamlining of tollway operations. But he said there will always be a big place in his heart for basketball. 

The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has decided to postpone the three games scheduled on July 26, 2024 at the Olivarez College Gymnasium in Parañaque as Metro Manila and nearby areas are still reeling from the ravage of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon.In a post shared by the MPBL Communication thru their social media account, they said that the health and safety of the teams, working staff, and fans are of utmost importance to the league.The new date of the postponed games will be announced in due course.Toda Aksyon Party Lost was supposed to battle Bicolandia Dragon at 4 p.m. game, to be followed by South Cotabato Warriors versus Quezon Huskers in the 6 p.m. schedule while host Parañaque Patriots was scheduled in the main event at 8 p.m. against the Abra Weavers.The main game is supposed to feature the return of Mark Yee in Parañaque (who started the season with the Patriot), but now as a Weaver for the first time.

Spain-based Filipino athlete John Cabang Tolentino has been breaking records for the Philippines as he takes the road to Paris one hurdle at a time.The 22-year old hurdler will compete in the men's 110m hurdles event of the Summer Games - his first-ever Olympics. He will join fellow hurdler Lauren Hoffman and pole vaulter EJ Obiena to be one of the three Philippine representatives in athletics that will compete in Paris.In the Philippine Athletics Championships held last May in Pasig, Tolentino set the national record for 110m hurdles at 13:37. Prior to this, he won the bronze in the Asian Indoor Championships in February where he clocked in 7.64 in the 60m hurdles, which also broke the national record. Tolentino also won the bronze medal with a result of 13.85 in the same event during the 2023 Southeast Asian Games that was held in Cambodia.Currently ranked 36th in the world, Tolentino will face a tough competition in the Summer Games as Tokyo gold medalist and 2023 World Championship silver medalist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica will once again compete in the 110m hurdles. Also, Tokyo silver medalist and three-time world champion Grant Holloway of Team USA will also compete in the 110 hurdles.Parchment won the gold in Tokyo as he clocked in 13.04, while Holloway settled for silver with 13.09. in the 2023 World Championships, Holloway had it at 12.96, while Parchment registered 13.07.The 22-year-old Filipino was ranked No.29 out of the 40 athletes when the Philippines Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) officially announced his qualification for the Olympics.Before this, Cabang started representing and playing for the Philippines in 2022. It was then during the Asian Championships of the following year when he made his mark as he finished fourth after clocking in at 13.56.Earlier this year, Cabang reset his personal and the Philippine record of the 110m hurdles during the National Championships in Pasig at 13.37. He also won gold during the meet.That is why for Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Secretary General Jasper Tanhueco, Tabang, as well Hoffman and PH’s pole vault bet EJ Obiena, is in a good position to bring home Olympic gold.

Lauren Hoffman has faced many hurdles already whether in sports or in life.In the upcoming Paris Olympics, she hopes to surpass another one as she is to face the grandest hurdle of her career.Hoffman will be one of the Philippines’ track and field Olympic bets together with fellow hurdler John Cabang Tolentino and pole vaulter EJ Obiena in the athletics.The 25-year-old Filipino-American hurdler will compete in her pet event 400-meter hurdles as she vies for no less than a medal. Her Olympic journey will begin on Sunday, August 4, 6:35 (Philippine Time).When Hoffman learned about her qualification for the Paris Games, these are the first words that she uttered, "I qualified for the Olympics. Still feels so crazy to say that."Lauren, the daughter of a Filipina mother and American father, grew up in the States, and started representing the Philippine flag only in 2023, then immediately made an impact since donning the national colors.She buckled up to work and competed in that year's Asian Games in China, where she impressed right away in the 400m hurdles after finishing second second in the heats with a 57.61-second output and fifth in the finals with a 57.21 seconds performance.However, that was not enough to clinch a berth in the Paris Games. She needed to either hit the Olympic standard time of 54.85 seconds in succeeding competitions or finish within the top 40 in the world rankings.Only 32 athletes managed to meet the required time while the eight others had to rely on their Olympic rankings to punch their way to the Games. Hoffman qualified through the latter after ranking 39th as her current personal best and national record is at 55.47 seconds she set in 2022.Despite hurdling the harder path, Hoffman was just ecstatic to wave the flag once she set foot at sports' biggest stage. 

As Typhoon Carina pummeled the Philippines, causing a lot of difficulties for the Filipinos who were left stranded in the floods, a glimmer of hope from heroes both outside and inside the game tried their best to uplift the diminished morale of their fellow kababayan.Some well-known esports and gaming personalities have allocated their time and effort to offer a helping hand to their countrymen who are in dire need.Content creator Elyson Caranza, also known as GHOST Wrecker, and his team traveled across the floods of Araneta Village in Malabon to offer their support. They brought four boats that can transfer eight individuals. They also sought help from the community if they could provide ropes.Wrecker then posted on his social media page hoping that more volunteers can offer their services.“Sino pa may kilalang pwede mag rescue diyan? May apat na bangka pa ako dito, at saka lifevest 20pcs. Pahinga ko lang team ko. Need lang more rescuers along Malabon,” posted Wrecker on his Facebook page.Meanwhile, Aurora’s Royal Duo of Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario have received donations from the community.Wise then posted a photo of the total collection amount they received while also giving instructions to those who are willing to support their cause. Together with V33nus, Wise was able to prepare relief goods to be delivered to the communities affected by the super typhoon.Gamer and streamer Setsuna “Akosi Dogie” Ignacio offered support for those who are impacted by the flood crisis by announcing on his social media page that he is prepared to send donations based on the outcome of his live stream session."Mga guys mamayang live ko, kung magkano na talo ko, ganun halaga ibibigay natin sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo at kung magkano napanalo ko ayun din ibibigay natin na tulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo. INGAT PO KAYO AT MAG DASAL PO MGA KABABAYAN," as stated on his Facebook post.On the other hand, it is not only players and gaming personalities who had their say in the current crisis. Team Secret has reminded the community of the emergency protocols by posting photos of phone numbers coming from government agencies on their social media sites.Secret has also emphasized that animal lives are just as important as the humans, advising the community to be responsible in taking care of their pets as the heavy downpour and floods can be a struggle for animals who could be abandoned in the middle of the calamity as well.In times of catastrophe, the Bayanihan spirit remains alive in the hearts of Filipinos and with the efforts of these notable people in the world of gaming, perhaps others as well would feel inspired to aid the victims of Typhoon Carina. 

Central Visayas collected 16 gold medals in the final day of the 2024 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games weightlifting competition at the Gogon Elementary School on Wednesday, July 24.Bohol Institute of Technology’s June Michael Jaluag registered a total of 216 kilograms – 85 kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk – to secure three gold medals in the men’s 94kg category.Czar Angelo Bangoy of Holy Trinity College in General Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) took the silver medals in snatch (70kg), clean and jerk (100kg), and total (170kg) while Jhon Benedict Jacob of Naga College Foundation (Region V) settled for the bronze medals in snatch (50kg), clean and jerk (75kg), and total (125kg).Rising Boholana lifter Samantha Nicole Podot pocketed three gold medals in the women’s weightlifting -77kg category.The 19-year-old Podot lifted a tournament-best 55 kilograms in the snatch and 65 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 120 kilograms that earned her a golden treble.Podot, a first year BS Medical Technology student of Holy Name University (HNU) in her hometown of Tagbilaran City, trains alongside Vanessa Sarno, one of the country’s representatives to the most anticipated Paris Olympics set to kick off on July 26.Other weightlifting gold miners from Central Visayas include Justine Luke Loreto (men’s 54kg), Julia Xeanne Quano (girls 49kg), Daisymae Zerna (girls 53kg), and Rhea Marie Magparo (girls 57kg).Meanwhile, Bicol Region produced nine gold medals coming from Naga College Foundation students Mateo Noel Falcon (boys 68kg), Venn Emil Quiros (boys 73kg), and Aljo Augie Bibe (boys 54kg).With about a day left in the 2024 PRISAA Games, Central Visayas and Bicol Region have the most number of golds and total medals collected in the senior and youth division, respectively.Region VII has so far won 66 gold, 33 silver, and 34 bronze medals in the senior level, a total of 133 medals.Cordillera Administrative Region has the second most gold medals won with 33, plus 23 silvers and 31 bronzes, followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with a 24-23-19 medal tally.Also reaching double digit numbers in gold medals are SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) and CALABARZON (Region IV-A) with 23 each, Ilocos Region (Region I) with 14, as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) and Negros Island Region with 11 apiece.In the youth division, Bicol Region (Region V) has 52 golds, 39 silvers, and 38 bronzes, totaling 129.Western Visayas is second with 38 gold, 42 silver, and 30 bronze medals, while Calabarzon is not too far behind with a 33-21-20 medal haul.Central Luzon (Region III) has 25 golds, Central Visayas has 11, and Northern Mindanao (Region X) has 10.The PRISAA National Games will have its closing ceremony on Friday.

Kiyomi Watanabe is set to make her mark again in the world stage as she will be competing for Team Philippines in women’s judo of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for the second straight time.It has been three years since the Philippines fielded the Olympics with a female judoka to represent the nation in judo. And though Watanabe’s campaign did not get as far as she had hoped, she earned the distinction as the first Filipina Olympian in the sport since the country participated in Olympic Judo competitions since 1964.Three years later, that remains to be the case as Watanabe is the lone female in the country’s elite line of judokas in the Olympics which includes John Baylon (1998 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona), Jerry Dino (1998 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona), Benjie McMurray (1988 Seoul), Tomohiko Hoshina (2012 London), and Kodo Nakano (2016 Rio).The 27-year-old had a forgettable outing in her Olympic debut in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games after absorbing defeat in the opening round via an ippon to Spain’s Cristina Cabaña.Despite the heartbreaking loss, Watanabe booked her return trip to the Olympics.Watanabe, who won four gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games and a silver medal in the Asian games, secured her seat after earning one of the two continental quotas allocated for Asia in the -63 kilogram class of the women’s category through her world ranking, No. 92.In her return to the Olympics, the Filipino-Japanese vowed to do better by hurdling the first round in the weight division consisting of 28 entries.Watanabe is set to begin her stint on July 30. 

Akari’s import Oly Okaro had a performance to remember as she paced her team to a five-set comeback against the Choco Mucho as they went 2-0 to start the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday, July 23.The Chargers remain undefeated in Pool B after pulling off the reverse sweep against the Flying Titans, 18-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13.The 28-year-old American opposite spiker recorded an explosive performance in the game, matching the season’s scoring record of 38 points built off 33 attacks, three aces, and two blocks. Okaro tied Creamline’s Tots Carlos in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference last March with the fifth-highest scoring output in the league’s seven year-history.

University of the East high school fencers nabbed three golds for the Philippines in the Thailand Fencing Festival Minime and Veterans Championships 2024 held over the weekend at Diamond Hall in Zeer Rangsit, Thailand.Willa Galvez, who represented Canlas Fencing, captured two gold medals after dominating top seed Hei Shun Keung of Hong Kong, 15-8, in the finals of the Under-14 girl’s foil last Saturday, July 20.It was Galvez’s second gold medal in the same category in an international meet just seven months after her breakthrough victory in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.The incoming Grade 8 student also added gold on Sunday, July 21, the Under-14 girl’s epee with a nail-biting 15-13 win against Pawichaya Thongngaram of Thailand in the finals – her first epee gold on foreign soil after settling with a silver in Kuala Lumpur last year.On the other hand, Yuan Canlas bagged the gold medal in Under-12 girl’s epee on the final day of competition Monday, July 22, after beating Lena Xia of Singapore 10-5 in the finals.Canlas also earned two bronze medals (U-14 and U-12 foil) in the three-day tournament.The competition followed a tough training camp where Galvez and other Filipino fencers participated last week in Taiwan – a big help she said as it boosted her confidence after a weeklong process with some of the world-class fencers like former Olympian Ziemek Wojciechowski of Great Britain.“I am happy to win. It was perfect timing that after the Taiwan training camp we joined a tournament in Thailand. It gave me confidence and at the same time I was able to apply the lessons. I am grateful and thankful to all the UE and CF coaches led by coach Amat Canlans,” Galvez told Manila Bulletin in an interview.