Golden Stags reload with young guns and new coach for Season 101

The wait is over.

After two tough losses, the Alas Pilipinas Men finally broke through at the 2026 Asian Games, beating Uzbekistan in four sets in their classification match to put their first win on the board.

It was a victory built on persistence — the kind of result that can change the tone of a campaign that had started with frustration.

The Filipino side refused to let another opportunity slip away, fighting through four sets against Uzbekistan and finally getting the breakthrough it had been chasing.

For Alas Pilipinas, the win is more than just another entry in the standings. It is a much-needed reward for staying in the fight after a difficult start to the Asian Games campaign.

The men’s squad now carries that momentum into the remainder of the classification round, with another opportunity to finish the tournament on a high.

Two losses. One breakthrough. And finally, a win for Alas Pilipinas Men. 🇵🇭🔥

The campaign continues — and now, the Philippines has something to build on.

Eight years ago, Carlo Paalam stood on the Asian Games podium with bronze around his neck.

This time, he climbed one step higher.

Paalam secured silver in the men’s 55kg division after a hard-fought championship bout against Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi, marking his best finish yet in the Asian Games.

The result may not have delivered the gold he was chasing, but the silver represents another milestone in the Filipino boxer’s long climb through the continental ranks.

Back in 2018, Paalam broke through with a bronze medal. Eight years later, he returned to the podium and upgraded the color of his medal — a simple progression that reflects the persistence required to remain among Asia’s best.

Bronze in 2018. Silver in 2026.

That journey tells its own story.

Paalam has never been a stranger to difficult fights, and his latest Asian Games campaign once again put his resilience on display. Against Yamaguchi, he battled for the top prize but ultimately settled for silver as Japan claimed the division’s gold.

For Paalam, however, the journey does not end with the runner-up finish.

The silver adds another major medal to a career already marked by international success, while also giving the Filipino boxing star another milestone to build on.

From bronze to silver, Paalam has shown that the climb is still underway.

One step higher. One more medal. And another chapter in the Carlo Paalam story.

They were down a set. They were pushed to the brink. Then Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara refused to let history slip away.

The Alas Pilipinas duo staged a sensational comeback against China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie, rallying from an opening-set defeat to win 13-21, 23-21, 15-13 and secure the Philippines’ first-ever Asian Games beach volleyball medal.

China struck first, taking control of the opening set and putting the Filipino pair in an early hole. But Progella and Pagara answered when the pressure was at its highest, grinding out a dramatic 23-21 second-set victory to force a decider.

And in the third set, there was nowhere to hide.

With the bronze medal hanging in the balance, the Philippine tandem held its nerve through another tight battle, closing out the match, 15-13, and sending the Filipino camp into celebration.

It was more than a comeback. It was a breakthrough.

Progella and Pagara have now etched their names into Philippine beach volleyball history as the country’s first Asian Games medalists in the sport, turning a tense three-set battle into a landmark moment for Alas Pilipinas.

From one set down to standing on the podium — the Filipino pair showed that sometimes, history belongs to the team that refuses to quit.

The sand has a new Philippine story. And it comes with bronze.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO STRIKES GOLD AND SILVER IN NATIONAL FENCING TOURNEY

In fencing, every point is a battle. But for Glowlyn Malipol and her daughter, Christine May Morales, their latest victories delivered something more meaningful than medals: a moment they could celebrate together.

The mother-daughter tandem made a memorable impact at the 2nd Leg Mini-Me and Veterans National Ranking Competition at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, with Morales capturing gold and Malipol claiming silver in their respective events.

The 13-year-old Morales, a Grade 8 student-athlete and scholar from the University of the East, ruled the Under-14 Women’s Foil after defeating Canlas Fencing’s Ma. Alana Angelique Ribaya, 10-4, in the final. She powered through the competition with wins over Eliora Lenie Dela Cruz, 10-4, and Republic Fencing’s Julia Lauren Reyes, 10-1, and Vince Avery Asperin, 10-4, in the preliminaries.

Yet the young fencing standout had another reason to celebrate beyond adding another gold to her collection: her mother was also on the podium.

“I’m very happy with my victory, but I’m even happier because my mom also won a medal. Sharing the podium with her makes this achievement more meaningful for both of us,” Morales said.

Representing Quezon City SEP, Malipol secured silver in the Veterans Women’s Epee after falling to Beverly Gay Alarcon of Luzon Elite Fencing Club in the final. She booked her place in the championship bout with a nail-biting 10-9 victory over Gay Marie Rafael of Republic Fencing, after opening her campaign with a 10-4 win against Michelle Ragot.

Organized by the Philippine Fencing Association with support from the Philippine Sports Commission, the tournament provided another stage for the country’s fencers to showcase their skills across age groups.

For Morales, the gold-medal performance continued a promising run following her triumph at the 3rd Leg Cadet and Junior Championships at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.

Now, with another victory under her belt, the young champion is setting her sights on an international competition scheduled for December 1-10 in Kuala Lumpur.

“This win gives me more confidence and motivation to train harder. I’m excited for the next international competition, and I will do my best to represent the Philippines,” she said.

For this mother and daughter, the latest competition was more than a test of skill and nerve. It was proof that the pursuit of excellence can be a shared journey — with gold and silver medals making the family celebration even sweeter.

YAPE’S GOLDEN BEATDOWN! FILIPINO JIN DELIVERS FOURTH ASIAD GOLD WITH 1,120-0 DEMOLITION

Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape delivered a virtual taekwondo masterclass, crushing Vietnam’s Chau Ngoc Tuyet Sang in a commanding 2-0 sweep to secure the Philippines’ fourth gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Yape was untouchable when it mattered most, shutting out Chau, 500-0, in the opening round before turning up the pressure in the second with another lopsided 620-0 victory. Across two rounds, the Filipino jin piled up a staggering 1,120-0 advantage in Remaining HP.

The championship bout was a showcase of Yape’s attacking precision and defensive control. He registered 21 total kicks, including five head kicks, and five blocks, outproducing Chau in total kicks and blocks to seal the gold without surrendering a single point in Remaining HP.

But Yape’s victory meant more than another medal for the Philippine delegation. His triumph brought the country to four golds, matching its haul at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, while the Philippines surpassed its previous overall medal tally with additional silver and bronze medals.

From the virtual mat to the medal stand, Yape made his statement loud and clear: the Filipino fight is alive, and the gold rush continues.

One performance. Two dominant rounds. One more golden moment for the Philippines.

Mabuhay, Jeus Yape!