Eldrew Yulo strikes bronze rebounds with grit at Junior Worlds

Another Filipino standout is set to compete against Gilas Pilipinas, this time wearing the colors of Guam. 

Filipino-American guard Isaiah Africano, who went undrafted in the recent PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft, has earned a spot on Guam’s men’s national basketball team for the upcoming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Africano’s inclusion was confirmed through a social media announcement from his agent, Rey Punongbayan of Punongbayan Ponceja Sports Management, who praised his player’s perseverance and drive. 

“My player Isaiah Africano who went undrafted in the last PBA Draft threw his anger by making it in the Guam National Basketball Team that will battle Gilas Pilipinas. Proved them all wrong Isaiah!” Punongbayan wrote.

The 6-foot-2 guard joins San Miguel Beermen veteran Jericho Cruz, forming a duo of Filipino blooded players on Guam’s roster. 

Africano appears on the official lineup alongside Mark Johnson, Tomas Calvo, Jon Galloway, Daren Hechanova and Tai Wesley as the 81st ranked nation prepares to challenge Gilas Pilipinas later this month.

Africano’s journey has been anything but easy. The Hawaii-born Fil Am guard, whose mother hails from Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Norte and whose father is Colombian, was in Manila two months ago in pursuit of his PBA dream. After going undrafted and missing out on roster spots as a rookie free agent, he faced uncertainty about his path.

That changed when Guam head coach EJ Calvo saw value in the high-energy guard, particularly his defense, hustle and competitiveness. Calvo moved quickly to secure Africano for the national squad, giving the 28-year-old his first major international opportunity.

Africano said that being at this level was already a blessing, reflecting on his basketball journey that began in Pearl City, Hawaii, and continued through Division III basketball at Pacific University in Oregon, adding that he wants to look back knowing he did everything he could and to maximize the talent God has given him.

Africano describes himself as a defensive-minded, high-energy player, qualities that Guam hopes will strengthen its backcourt rotation alongside Cruz.

Guam will face Gilas Pilipinas on November 28 at the University of Guam Calvo Field House, creating an intriguing subplot as two players with Filipino roots suit up for the opposing side.

For Africano, it may be the closest he gets to facing PBA-level talent after narrowly missing his chance to join the league earlier this year.

Yet despite the turns in his career, Africano remains motivated by the support of his family. 

“My parents always told me I could do anything as long as I put my heart into it,” he shared to Scoreline.ph during the PBA Draft Combine. “I have always gravitated toward team basketball. This is another opportunity to prove what I can do.”

With talent, energy and a renewed opportunity, Isaiah Africano enters the Asian Qualifiers ready to make his mark, representing Guam on the international stage against the very nation of his heritage.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the importance of grassroots sports development, youth participation, and cultural pride during the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF) Mindanao Qualifying Tournament held at the University of Mindanao in Davao City on November 22. As Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Sports and Youth, Go underscored the role of athletic events in cultivating values, discipline, and opportunities for young athletes.

Go advised participants to “get into sports, stay away from illegal drugs to keep us healthy and fit,” reflecting his advocacy for sports as a pillar of nation-building.

He highlighted the National Academy of Sports (NAS), established through Republic Act No. 11470, as a dual-track system for quality education and athletic training. Go is pushing for Senate Bill No. 171 to expand NAS campuses nationwide, ensuring accessibility and balanced development of talent across all regions.

Go also filed SBN 413 (Philippine National Games bill) to institutionalize a unified nationwide grassroots competition, and SBN 678 (National Tertiary Games Act) to formalize a collegiate multi-sport tournament—creating a clear pipeline from school leagues to national competition.

Go recognized Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, PEKAF President, and local leadership for nurturing sports communities. The tournament gathered 500 Arnisadors from Mindanao, celebrating a discipline rooted in Filipino heritage.

Go’s Malasakit Team distributed tokens, and he reminded all: “Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong o karangalan na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa at sa bansa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito.”

Go concluded, “Patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat, kabilang na sa ating mga atleta, dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos.”

The UAAP community is raising its voice this November 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena as the league encourages everyone to wear white in a united stand for accountability, transparency, and integrity in government.

Throughout the season, pep squads have used their halftime stages to call for accountability amid the flood control scandal—and this year’s Cheerdance Competition continues that fight.

With the theme “Passion for Victory, Passion for Integrity! No to Corruption!” UAAP aims to inspire the youth, athletes, and the broader public to champion honesty and good governance both on and off the court.

Fans, students, and alumni are invited to join the white-out and amplify the message: sports and society thrive only with integrity at their core.

Islay Erika Bomogao continues her meteoric rise in ONE Championship, delivering another electrifying performance as she scored a second-round knockout victory over Thailand’s Ploychompoo PU Phabai at ONE Friday Fights 134 in Bangkok.

Fighting once again under the bright lights of the historic Lumpinee Stadium, the 23-year-old Filipina showed no signs of slowing down. From the opening bell, Bomogao pushed the pace, peppering her opponent with sharp combinations and unrelenting pressure that had the Thai debutante on the defensive.

By the second round, Bomogao’s barrage proved too much. A clean, decisive flurry sent Ploychompoo crashing down, prompting the referee to wave off the fight — sealing Bomogao’s fourth straight victory in ONE Championship.

This latest triumph also marks her second consecutive knockout, following her emphatic first-round finish over Nerea Rubio last June.

With the win, Bomogao improves to 4-0 in ONE’s Muay Thai ranks, with two of those victories coming by stoppage — a testament to her growing power, precision, and evolution as a world-class striker.

Still perfect. Still rising. And still carrying the Filipino fighting spirit every time she steps into the ring.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio said his perspective on sports development shifted after witnessing the overwhelming turnout in emerging sports during the recent Batang Pinoy games. Events like archery, futsal, taekwondo, and swimming drew hundreds—if not thousands—of young athletes, surpassing participation numbers in traditional crowd favorites such as basketball and volleyball.

“To be honest, nagulat ako sa dami ng participants,” Gregorio said. “Take futsal, for example—there were hundreds of players from nearly every LGU. We also had 500 to 600 in archery, and it helped that we brought in Korean coach Ryu Ju-seng, known for developing Olympic medalists, for our national team.”

With the surge of interest, Gregorio believes the PSC should champion emerging sports such as netball, floorball, and handball, but he is particularly excited about futsal—especially as the Philippines is currently hosting the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.

Gregorio revealed that with the newly-refurbished PhilSports Arena serving as the World Cup venue, the PSC is considering transforming it into a dedicated futsal arena.

“A lot of our arenas default to basketball after events of other sports,” he said. “But we already have more than enough basketball venues like MOA Arena, Ynares, Araneta, FilOil, and the upcoming UAAP Akari arena. Maybe it’s time we dedicate an arena for futsal. If we do, we could excite FIFA into helping us craft a seven-year development plan for football.”

He cited the PSC’s successful seven-year roadmap with the FIVB, which led to the Philippines hosting the Men’s Volleyball World Championship this year and the Women’s World Championship in 2029. Gregorio believes a similar long-term partnership with the Philippines Football Federation (PFF) and FIFA is well within reach.

Beyond athlete development, Gregorio stressed that hosting world-level sports events should be viewed as an investment—not a cost.

“I’m betting on sports and tourism,” said Gregorio, "Sports can help the economy if we attach it to tourism. It’s a powerful way to promote our country.”

In January, the Philippines will stage its first-ever WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open, which will feature tennis star Alex Eala. The PSC is currently refurbishing the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center to host the event, but Gregorio foresees that the growing interest in tennis will soon require a larger venue.

“In two years, we’ll likely need a bigger venue if we want to host a WTA 250,” he added.

With rising participation, world-class hosting opportunities, and a renewed vision, Gregorio believes the Philippines is entering a pivotal moment in its sports development journey.