The Filipinas have arrived: Philippine women’s baseball makes history at World Cup

They may not have gotten the result they dreamed of, but Sisi Rondina and Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball gave the Philippines something far bigger—a reason to be proud.

For Rondina, simply stepping onto the international stage was already a dream fulfilled.

Representing the country at that level is an opportunity few athletes get to experience, and the Filipina star understands exactly what it means to carry the Philippine flag in competition against the best.

But dreams are rarely measured by one result.

Sometimes, they are measured by the courage to show up, the battles fought, and the lessons carried home.

And that is exactly what Alas Pilipinas now has.

A journey worth remembering

The campaign may not have ended the way the team hoped, but every match gave the Filipinas another opportunity to test themselves, learn and grow.

They leave the competition carrying more than memories.

They leave with experience.

They leave with lessons.

And most importantly, they leave with an even stronger hunger for what comes next.

For a team continuing to make its mark in international beach volleyball, every high-pressure match is another building block toward a bigger future.

The disappointment may sting now.

But it does not erase what they accomplished.

The dream continues

There will be another tournament. Another court. Another opportunity to wear the national colors.

And when that moment comes, Rondina and her teammates will bring everything they learned from this journey with them.

Because this was never simply about winning one match or one tournament.

It was about fighting for the flag.

It was about carrying the Philippines with pride.

And it was about proving that Alas Pilipinas belongs on the international stage.

So, kudos, mga Alas. 🇵🇭🔥

You fought.

You battled.

You represented.

And you gave Filipinos another reason to believe.

This may not be the ending you wanted.

But it is definitely NOT the end of the dream.

The dream continues. 🇵🇭🔥

The Philippine flag has reached the podium on the global pickleball stage.

Vole player Vien Reyes-Bejosano delivered a breakthrough performance at the Pickleball World Cup, capturing the bronze medal in the Women’s Singles category and finishing third in a tournament that brought together players and delegates from 64 countries.

In a field filled with international talent, Bejosano held her ground against fierce competition and emerged as one of the tournament’s Top 3 women’s singles players — a result that stands as a significant milestone for both the player and Philippine pickleball.

The bronze may not have been the top step of the podium, but its significance goes far beyond the color of the medal.

It represents the growing presence of Filipino talent in a sport that continues to expand rapidly across the globe.

A statement on the world stage

Making a deep run at a major international tournament is never an easy task.

With representatives from 64 countries converging for the World Cup, the Women’s Singles competition provided Bejosano with a stern test against a diverse and highly competitive international field.

She answered that challenge with a strong campaign, battling her way into the medal places and securing third place.

The result placed Bejosano alongside the best performers of the tournament while giving Philippine pickleball a moment to celebrate on the international stage.

For Vole, the achievement is a major milestone.

For the Philippines, it is another reminder that Filipino athletes are capable of competing beyond domestic competition and making their presence felt against international opposition.

Bronze with a bigger meaning

Bejosano's podium finish is not simply about one player earning a medal.

It reflects the continued development and growing profile of pickleball in the Philippines.

The sport has attracted an increasingly broad following locally, with players of different ages and backgrounds taking to the courts. As the Philippine pickleball community continues to grow, international achievements such as Bejosano's provide both recognition and inspiration.

Her World Cup performance gives aspiring Filipino players something tangible to look toward — proof that the road from Philippine courts to international competition is becoming increasingly possible.

And when that journey ends with a place on the podium, the impact becomes even greater.

A proud moment for Vole

For Vole, Vien’s bronze is a result worthy of celebration.

The achievement puts the organization and its player in the spotlight while highlighting the level of talent emerging from the Philippine pickleball scene.

Reaching the Top 3 at a World Cup featuring competitors from 64 countries is no small accomplishment.

It is a result built on the ability to compete under pressure, maintain consistency and perform when the stakes are at their highest.

Vien managed to do exactly that.

Inspiring the next generation

Every breakthrough performance has the potential to inspire the athletes who come next.

For young Filipino pickleball players watching Vien stand on the World Cup podium, the message is clear: the Philippines belongs in the conversation.

The journey does not end with one bronze medal.

Instead, it could mark the beginning of an even bigger chapter for Vien Reyes-Bejosano — and perhaps another step forward for Philippine pickleball as it continues to establish itself on the international scene.

The Philippines may still be developing its identity in the global pickleball community, but achievements like this are helping change that narrative.

From Philippine courts to the world

Gold and silver may have occupied the top two spots, but her bronze carries a significance that cannot be measured simply by its place on the podium.

She has earned a place among the World Cup’s best women’s singles players and, in doing so, helped raise the profile of Philippine pickleball before an international audience.

For Vole, it is a proud achievement.

For her, it is a major career milestone.

And for the Philippines, it is another reason to believe that Filipino talent can compete — and win — on the world stage.

One rally. One point. One podium finish.

And this time, the Philippine flag is flying beside her.

The UAAP is making an important statement even before Season 89 officially gets underway: when the country calls, the league is willing to make room.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines has scaled down its September men’s basketball schedule to just five game days, allowing several of its student-athletes to represent the Philippines in major international competitions.

With players set to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas squads in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan and the FIBA 3x3 Under-23 World Cup in Wuhan, China, the UAAP adjusted its calendar rather than force its young stars to choose between school and country.

It is a decision that puts a familiar school rivalry on pause—but places national pride front and center.

UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tips off on September 13, with the defending champion De La Salle Green Archers facing the National University Bulldogs in the opening-day main event at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But unlike a typical September packed with collegiate basketball, the league will hold games on only five dates.

A schedule built around the flag

The UAAP will stage September games on:

September 13 — Smart Araneta Coliseum
September 16 — Mall of Asia Arena
September 19 — Smart Araneta Coliseum
September 26 — Mall of Asia Arena
September 30 — Mall of Asia Arena

The unusual scheduling reflects the number of UAAP student-athletes expected to be involved in national-team duties during the month.

For UAAP president Mark Molina of Far Eastern University, the decision reflects what collegiate sports should ultimately be about: developing athletes not only for their schools, but also for the country.

“We have always believed that the UAAP’s mission goes beyond the competition,” Molina said.

The league president stressed that the UAAP takes pride whenever its student-athletes receive the opportunity to represent the Philippines, adding that the organization is willing to adjust its calendar whenever necessary to allow them to serve the national team.

From school colors to Philippine colors

Several familiar UAAP names will temporarily trade their school jerseys for the national colors.

La Salle’s Luis Pablo and Doy Dungo, together with UST’s Koji Buenaflor, have been called up for the Philippine men’s 3x3 basketball team for the Asian Games, scheduled for September 21 to 25.

Meanwhile, Kacey Dela Rosa and other UAAP standouts are set to bolster the Philippine women’s 5-on-5 basketball team.

Their involvement underscores the growing role of the UAAP as a pipeline for Philippine basketball.

For these young players, the opportunity represents more than simply another tournament.

Playing for their respective schools means competing for championships, pride and campus bragging rights.

Playing for the Philippines means carrying the expectations of an entire nation.

La Salle begins its title defense

Before some of its players head off to national duty, however, the defending champions will first begin their UAAP title defense.

La Salle faces NU on September 13, immediately setting the tone for another highly anticipated season of collegiate basketball.

The Green Archers enter the season carrying the pressure that comes with being champions, while the rest of the league looks to knock them off their perch.

But the early portion of the season will unfold under an unusual circumstance.

Some of the league's biggest young talents will soon be pulled away from the UAAP hardwood to compete internationally.

And rather than viewing that as an inconvenience, the UAAP has chosen to embrace it.

A bigger stage for UAAP stars

The scheduling adjustment is also a reminder of the increasingly important relationship between collegiate basketball and the national team program.

UAAP players are no longer simply future prospects waiting for their chance.

Many are already being trusted with national-team responsibilities while still in college.

The experience of competing against international opponents can only add another layer to their development—and potentially make them better players when they eventually return to the UAAP floor.

For the league, that makes the temporary disruption worthwhile.

The UAAP can wait. The national team cannot.

The rivalries will still be there.

The championships will still be there.

But opportunities to represent the Philippines on the international stage do not come around every day.

And for the UAAP, the message is clear:

School pride matters. But when the Philippine flag is on the line, the flag comes first.

Gilas Pilipinas begins its campaign to defend the men’s basketball gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games with a significantly different lineup from the team that ended the country’s 61-year title drought in Hangzhou.

The Philippines opens its title defense against Bahrain on September 11 in Nagoya, Japan, beginning a challenging tournament that will test whether the new-look national team can once again rise to the occasion on the Asian stage.

The men’s basketball competition will be held from September 10 to 20, ahead of the official Asian Games opening ceremony, with the 5-on-5 tournament taking place at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya.

Coach Tim Cone is building the 2026 squad primarily around players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after several regular Gilas players based in Japan and South Korea became unavailable because the Asian Games falls outside the regular FIBA competition calendar.

That has left the Philippines with a roster that looks markedly different from the squad that won gold in Hangzhou in 2023.

A very different Gilas team

The Philippines will enter the tournament without several key players who have been part of its recent international campaigns.

Among those unavailable are Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo, while veteran center June Mar Fajardo has already retired from international basketball.

Cone has confirmed that RJ Abarrientos, Justin Arana and Justin Baltazar will be part of the Asian Games team, while players such as Robert Bolick and Adrian Nocum are among the prominent candidates for the final 12-man lineup.

The final roster, however, remained subject to confirmation as of September 1.

The changes mean Cone will have to build a team around a different mix of size, athleticism and offensive firepower.

With a smaller lineup compared with previous Gilas squads, the coach is expected to emphasize speed, quickness and an up-tempo style of basketball.

The approach could allow the Philippines to maximize its athleticism, but it also presents challenges against teams capable of exploiting Gilas’ lack of size in the frontcourt.

Brownlee remains the biggest question

Perhaps the most important unresolved issue surrounding the team is the availability of Justin Brownlee.

The veteran naturalized player played a pivotal role in Gilas’ historic 2023 Asian Games campaign, but his participation in Nagoya has yet to be confirmed.

Cone said the Philippines has reserved a roster spot for Brownlee, leaving the door open for his return if he is healthy enough to compete.

Brownlee had been dealing with leg, hamstring and knee problems and missed Gilas’ recent FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers games against Jordan and Iran.

His importance to the team is difficult to overstate.

In the 2023 Asian Games semifinals, Brownlee erupted for 33 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, as the Philippines overcame a 20-point deficit to stun host China, 77-76.

He followed that performance with 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals in the championship game against Jordan as Gilas won 70-60 and captured the gold medal.

If Brownlee is healthy and commits to the team, his experience and scoring ability could provide a major boost to an otherwise revamped lineup.

No Kai Sotto, no June Mar Fajardo

The absence of Kai Sotto is another significant change.

Cone confirmed that Sotto would participate in the August FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers but would not be part of the Asian Games squad.

No specific reason was given for Sotto’s absence.

The 7-foot-3 center had recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff and helped Gilas defeat Jordan and Iran in the World Cup qualifiers, averaging 15.5 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and one block across the two victories.

Sotto is currently unsigned after his contract in Japan expired, while his basketball future remained uncertain as he awaited developments regarding his eligibility to play in the US NCAA.

Meanwhile, Fajardo has officially ended his Gilas career.

The 36-year-old center retired from international basketball after more than a decade representing the Philippines, including three FIBA World Cup appearances and the historic Asian Games championship in 2023.

Overseas commitments reshape the roster

The absence of several other Gilas regulars is largely tied to the timing of the Asian Games.

Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu play in Japan, while Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo are based in South Korea. Because the Asian Games is outside the regular FIBA competition calendar, securing the release of overseas players becomes more difficult.

That prompted Cone and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to construct a separate team largely composed of PBA players.

It is a situation that creates both uncertainty and opportunity.

The new lineup may lack the familiarity and international experience of the 2023 champions, but it also gives a new generation of PBA standouts an opportunity to establish themselves on the Asian stage.

Boatwright unavailable

Another potential option has also been removed from consideration.

Bennie Boatwright will not play for Gilas in Nagoya because his naturalization and Philippine passport requirements were not completed in time.

Cone had identified Boatwright as a possible naturalized-player option, but with the passport unavailable before the tournament, Brownlee remains the preferred choice if he is healthy and willing to return.

A familiar opponent awaits

Gilas has been drawn into Group C alongside China, Bahrain and Kazakhstan.

The Philippines opens against Bahrain on September 11 before facing Kazakhstan the following day.

The group-stage schedule then culminates in a highly anticipated meeting with China on September 14.

The matchup carries plenty of history.

Three years ago in Hangzhou, Gilas stunned the host nation with one of the most memorable comebacks in Philippine basketball history.

The Philippines trailed China by 20 points before Brownlee and the Nationals completed the comeback for a dramatic 77-76 victory.

Now, the two teams meet again—this time in the group stage.

The circumstances, however, are very different.

The Philippines is defending the title with a largely new squad, while China will be eager to erase the memory of its painful semifinal defeat on home soil.

The road to another gold medal

After the group stage, the quarterfinals are scheduled for September 16, followed by the semifinals on September 18.

The medal games are set for September 20, with the bronze-medal game scheduled at 3:40 p.m. Philippine time and the gold-medal game at 6:40 p.m.

Gilas’ exact quarterfinal and semifinal schedules will depend on its group-stage finish and subsequent tournament results.

Gilas Pilipinas Asian Games schedule

September 11 — vs. Bahrain, 12 noon Philippine time

September 12 — vs. Kazakhstan, 6 p.m.

September 14 — vs. China, 12 noon

September 16 — Quarterfinals

September 18 — Semifinals

September 20 — Bronze-medal game or gold-medal game

Japan is one hour ahead of the Philippines, with the schedule above converted to Philippine time.

Can Gilas defend the crown?

The Philippines enters Nagoya as the reigning Asian Games champion, but repeating that achievement will be far from straightforward.

The team that conquered Hangzhou three years ago featured Brownlee, Fajardo and several established national-team stars. The 2026 squad, meanwhile, will be asked to succeed without many of those familiar faces.

The final roster and Brownlee’s availability could significantly affect Gilas’ chances.

Still, the mission remains unchanged.

Win gold.

The Philippines ended a 61-year wait for the Asian Games basketball championship in 2023. Now, a new-look Gilas team must prove that the victory in Hangzhou was not simply a one-time breakthrough.

For Cone and his players, the challenge is clear: adapt quickly, embrace the pressure and keep the gold in Philippine hands.

The title defense begins September 11.

Different players. Different circumstances. Same dream.

He was told “no.” So he lifted. And eventually, he lifted his way to the Olympics.

Long before John Ceniza became an Olympic weightlifter, he was a young boy from Pasil, Cebu, who knew the harsh realities of poverty.

Raised by his grandmother, Ceniza grew up with very little. There were times when putting food on the table meant eating rice with nothing more than soy sauce or fish sauce.

As a child, he worked as an errand boy and carried wood in exchange for whatever small amount of money he could earn.

For Ceniza, survival came before sports.

But an unlikely moment involving his own brother would eventually change the direction of his life.

Ceniza discovered weightlifting almost by accident after his brother acquired new gym equipment—but refused to let him use it.

It was a simple rejection.

A small “no.”

But instead of walking away, Ceniza found himself even more determined to try.

What began with curiosity eventually became a passion. The boy who once struggled simply to get enough food would go on to dedicate himself to one of the most demanding sports in the world.

Every lift became another step away from the circumstances he was born into.

Every training session became another opportunity to prove that his beginnings did not have to define his destination.

And eventually, Ceniza reached the biggest stage of them all—the Olympic Games.

His journey is a powerful reminder that sporting greatness does not always begin in elite facilities or with access to every advantage.

Sometimes, it begins in the most unlikely places.

Sometimes, it begins with poverty.

Sometimes, it begins with a child simply wanting to try something he was told he couldn't do.

And sometimes, one small “no” can become the motivation to keep lifting until the entire world takes notice.

From Pasil, Cebu, to the Olympics, John Ceniza's journey is more than a weightlifting story.

It is a story about hunger, resilience, determination—and refusing to let circumstances decide how high you can rise.

He started with almost nothing. But he kept lifting until he had earned his place among the world's best.

That is the kind of story Philippine sports should never stop telling.