Alex Eala gave Filipinos reason to unite --- Bong Go

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala continued her impressive run on the WTA Tour after defeating American Alycia Parks, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, to reach the third round of the 2026 Canadian Open.

Backed by a passionate Filipino crowd at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Eala showed composure and determination after losing the second set, breaking through Parks’ challenge in the deciding frame to secure the victory in one hour and 51 minutes.

The 25th-seeded Eala entered the tournament with strong momentum after capturing her first-ever WTA Tour singles title at the DC Open in Washington. She received a first-round bye before facing Parks in the second round.

Eala dominated the opening set after breaking Parks in the fourth game and taking control of the match. However, world No. 71 Parks responded in the second set, holding serve before breaking Eala in the final game to force a deciding set.

In the third set, Eala regained control by breaking Parks to love in the fifth game. The Filipina star then maintained her composure, closing out the match with a love hold to complete another major victory.

After the match, Eala expressed her gratitude to the Filipino fans who showed their support by waving Philippine flags and cheering throughout the match.

“I am eternally grateful,” Eala said, adding that the support from Filipinos around the world has been a source of pride and motivation.

The victory also avenged Eala’s earlier loss to Parks at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Eala will next face Caty McNally, who pulled off an upset against reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková, in the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament.

Meanwhile, other top players advancing to the third round include second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula, fourth seed Coco Gauff, and world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva.

With her continued success, Eala is further establishing herself as one of the brightest young stars in international tennis and a source of pride for the Philippines.

Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena added another gold medal to his growing list of achievements after ruling the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany.

Obiena cleared 5.83 meters to capture the championship on Thursday morning (Philippine time), continuing his impressive run in the 2026 season. The world No. 14 athlete attempted to clear 5.93 meters to surpass his season-best mark of 5.85 meters, but failed to complete the height in three attempts.

Despite the challenge, Obiena finished ahead of Qatar’s Seifeldin Abdelsalam, who also cleared 5.83 meters but needed three attempts to do so. Turkey’s Ersu Sasma secured the bronze medal after clearing 5.77 meters in two attempts.

In a social media post, Obiena shared his satisfaction with the victory despite facing difficulties during the competition, saying the performance was far from perfect but he was happy to secure the win.

The victory marked Obiena’s fourth gold medal in Germany this 2026 season. He previously topped the International Springer-Meeting in Cottbus, won at the ISTAF Indoor Berlin, and recently claimed gold at the Halberstädter Höhenflug – International Pole Vault Meeting in Halberstadt.

With his continued dominance in international competitions, Obiena remains one of the Philippines’ biggest hopes for global athletics success and continues to inspire Filipino athletes around the world.

Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena received recognition from the Philippine Senate following his latest international victory at the Halberstädter Hohenflug International Pole Vault Competition in Germany.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go filed Senate Resolution No. 552 to commend Obiena for capturing the gold medal in the prestigious competition, highlighting his dedication, perseverance, and continued excellence in international athletics.

Obiena secured the championship after clearing 5.76 meters, once again proving that Filipino athletes can compete and succeed against the world’s best.

The Senate resolution recognized Obiena’s remarkable achievements and the inspiration he provides to Filipino athletes and sports enthusiasts. His consistent performances on the global stage have helped elevate the profile of Philippine athletics and brought pride to the country.

Obiena’s latest victory adds to his growing list of international accomplishments and further cements his status as one of the world’s top pole vaulters.

With every record-breaking leap and podium finish, Obiena continues to inspire a new generation of Filipino athletes to pursue excellence on the global stage.

Before the Philippines gained recognition in the world of figure skating, one Filipino athlete dared to compete among the best in the sport — Michael Martinez.

As the country’s first world-class figure skater, Martinez faced a difficult challenge: finding a way to continue his Olympic journey when sponsorship support was limited for a sport the Philippines had little history of investing in.

To help fund his training, Martinez launched his own GoFundMe campaign, “Michael Martinez – Road to 2022 Winter Olympics,” with a goal of raising $50,000. He also explored other personal fundraising efforts to support his pursuit of competing at the highest level.

His training expenses, including coaching, ice rink rentals, medical needs, and living costs in the United States, reached around $16,000 per month.

Despite the challenges, Martinez made history by becoming the first Filipino and Southeast Asian male figure skater to compete in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and later represented the Philippines again at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

His journey reflects the reality faced by many athletes in less-supported sports — where international dreams often depend on personal sacrifice, fan support, and determination.

Behind every athlete is not just a competitor chasing medals, but a person who needs opportunity, resources, and a nation willing to believe in their dream.

The Alas Pilipinas Boys made quick work of Hong Kong-China, 25-18, 28-26, 25-13, in the 9th-12th classification round of the 2026 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Boys’ U18 Volleyball Championship on Friday night at the Wuyuan River Gymnasium in Haikou, China.

The Philippines will face Indonesia today in the battle for ninth place. A victory would give Alas Pilipinas its highest finish in the tournament since making its debut in 1997.

After taking the opening set, 25-18, the Filipinos faced a tougher challenge in the second frame as Hong Kong-China battled back and forced a 26-all deadlock.

Elijah Guzman stepped up in crunch time, hammering down back-to-back kills to give the Philippines a commanding two-set advantage.

Alas then dominated the third set, with Al-Raquib Dais and Terrence Marticion attacking from all angles to power the team to a convincing 25-13 victory.

Dais, who erupted for a tournament-high 25 points in the team’s win over Australia, once again led the scoring with 15 points built on 12 attacks and three blocks. Marticion chipped in 14 points, while Guzman added six markers, including the two crucial points that sealed the second set.

Lik Chun Lau paced Hong Kong-China with 16 points.

Meanwhile, Japan and Iran will clash for the championship on Saturday, while Chinese Taipei and host China will battle for the bronze medal.