Billiards: Jefrey Roda wins Championship Universal Chinese Taipei Open

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio has been appointed to head the newly created National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC) established by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. under Administrative Order No. 38, signed on October 29, 2025.

Gregorio will serve as chairman of the committee, with the Department of Tourism (DOT) as vice-chair, and representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) as members.

The NST-IAC aims to promote and develop sports tourism across the Philippines — integrating sports and tourism as twin engines for economic growth, youth development, and national pride.

“This initiative recognizes how sports can inspire communities, drive regional progress, and showcase Filipino excellence on the global stage,” said Gregorio.

Filipina jiujitsu stars Kimberly Anne Custodio and Annie Ramirez showcased their dominance on the global stage after ruling their respective divisions at the 2025 IJJF World Jiujitsu Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Custodio captured her third world title with a flawless performance in the adult female -45kg division. She outclassed Jou-an Chen of Chinese Taipei, 4–0, in the quarterfinals, edged Thi Hue Phung of Vietnam, 2–0, in the semifinals, and capped her campaign by submitting Aysha Alshamsi of the UAE via armbar in the gold medal bout.

Phung and the UAE’s Balqees Abdulkareem Abdoh Abdulla shared the bronze, while Custodio’s teammate Daniella Palanca finished fifth in the same weight class.

Meanwhile, veteran standout Annie Ramirez finally achieved a long-awaited milestone. Her first-ever World Championships gold medal after topping the adult female -57kg division.

Ramirez submitted Rachel Glover of Canada in the Round of 16, edged Jeong Hyeon Seon of South Korea in the quarterfinals, and outlasted Lina Grosset of France in the semifinals before sealing the title with a 2–0 win over Astrid Scholin of Sweden in the final.

The triumph marked a strong comeback for Ramirez, who rebounded from a non-podium finish at the World Games in Chengdu, China, last August. Grosset and Jeong both claimed bronze medals in her division, while fellow Filipino Estancia Jan Mendoza placed 17th overall.

Custodio and Ramirez’s golden performances reaffirm the Philippines’ growing prominence in international jiujitsu competition.

Fresh from their medal-winning performances in the 3rd Asian Youth Games, the Philippines’ young athletes are setting their sights even higher — aiming to turn their victories into future gold medals in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino lauded the athletes’ performance and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the country’s participation in the next edition of the Asian Youth Games in 2029, which will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

“Our young athletes have shown that the future of Philippine sports is bright. We’ll continue to support their growth and push for a bigger delegation in 2029,” said Tolentino.

The Asian Youth Games serve as a vital platform for the country’s next generation of elite athletes — a launching pad for those who will soon compete on the regional and global stage.

With the lessons learned and confidence gained from this year’s campaign, the young Pinoy medalists are more motivated than ever to keep their winning momentum — and carry the flag with pride in future international competitions.

Meanwhile, a Php500,000 incentive will be given to all gold medalists from the last 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, silver winners will receive Php300,000 while bronze finishers will get Php100,000 care of the PSC. 

In addition to this, units of iPhone 17 Pro Max will be given to gold medalists and iPhone 17 will be issued to silver and bronze medalists by Sportsplus, the official gaming partner of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

After wrapping up her season with a hard-fought Round-of-16 loss to Canada’s Victoria Mboko (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) at the Hong Kong Open, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is already looking ahead — with the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) firmly in her sights.

“SEA Games is in my plans. It’s definitely in my plans,” said Eala after her match in Hong Kong.

The 20-year-old sensation, who has become one of the brightest young stars in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour, is expected to bring her world-class form to Team Philippines when the 33rd SEA Games take place this December in Thailand.

Eala is coming off a breakthrough WTA season, highlighted by a dream semifinal run in the Miami Open, which propelled her into the top 75 in the world rankings and eventually to her career-best ranking of No. 51.

“It’s really amazing. The target I had to end the year was to make the top 100 and that was kind of like pushing it. We got past it by a mile. I’m so happy with regards to next year,” said Eala. “I’m confident that my team has planned and we’ll plan accordingly and I’m here to give it my all and I’ll do my best to get better.”

Her 2025 campaign also featured several historic milestones — including the Philippines’ first-ever US Open main draw victory, when she defeated Clara Tauson in the first round, and her first WTA title at the Guadalajara 125 Open.

With her momentum and confidence at an all-time high, Eala’s potential SEA Games return could provide a major boost to Philippine tennis — and another chance to make history for the country.

“If it were to happen, I would be so, so happy, and it’s just such a milestone for Philippine tennis. Not just obviously for me but for everybody there because growing up, we never had these kinds of tournaments. As long as I can remember, we didn’t even have a 15K in a professional international tournament, so to come in with a 125 is such a big step, and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.”

“It’s only the start, so I’m so happy with that news, even if it’s just in the talks. The fact that they took a step and we’re taking action is something I’m so proud of and excited to see evolve.” Eala added.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has officially approved the establishment of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC) through Administrative Order No. 38, marking a major step toward strengthening the Philippines’ position as a regional hub for sports tourism.

The NST-IAC is tasked to harmonize, coordinate, and promote government efforts that integrate sports and tourism — transforming athletic excellence into a driver of youth empowerment, tourism growth, and regional development.

Under the directive, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Pato Gregorio will head the committee, with the Department of Tourism (DOT) serving as vice-chair. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) are designated as members.

“Sports can enable the youth, enable regional development, enable tourism, and enable new industries,” said Gregorio, underscoring the committee’s vision.

President Marcos, a known sports advocate, recognizes that hosting international sporting events and developing local talent not only elevates Filipino athletes but also boosts tourism and global recognition for the country.

With the creation of the NST-IAC, the Philippines is poised to merge sports and tourism into a powerful engine for national progress — showcasing Filipino talent, passion, and hospitality to the world.