Champions - 45up Division (World Masters Games 2025)
Masters Pinoy Pilipinas Basketball
Masters Pinoy captures basketball gold at the World Masters Games
The Masters Pinoy Pilipinas Basketball squad emerged victorious in the 45-up division at the World Masters Games, clinching the gold medal after a hard-fought 103-92 win over Mongolia on Monday, May 26, at the Fujen Catholic University Gymnasium in Xinzhuang, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Veteran leadership and experience powered the Filipinos to the top.
Team captain Gilbert Malabanan led by example, putting up an impressive stat line of 25 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. His all-around performance and court command anchored the team throughout the championship game.
Sharp-shooting guard Rendell Dela Rea added firepower from the perimeter, knocking down four three-pointers on his way to 24 markers, providing a steady offensive boost and keeping the defense on their heels.
Inside the paint, Marlon Basco delivered a commanding performance with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists, two steals, and a block. His physical presence and relentless effort on both ends of the floor were key in fending off Mongolia’s inside attacks.
Guiness Nabung also made valuable contributions in the starting rotation, finishing with four points, two rebounds, and two assists, adding balance to both ends of the court.
The steady hand of Roger Yap proved vital in the gold medal game. The veteran guard served as the team’s stabilizer, orchestrating plays and maintaining composure under pressure. Yap flirted with a triple-double, tallying nine points, seven rebounds, and a game-high 13 assists. His floor leadership was instrumental in guiding the team from a nine-point deficit to a decisive 11-point win.
"To the Philippines, we’re bringing home the bacon (gold)," said Rodriguez in Filipino. "We hope you continue to support our athletes. This means so much to us, especially because it allows our country to be recognized by other nations through sports. In times of uncertainty and challenges back home, sports can keep our spirits alive."
Off the bench, several players stepped up in crucial moments. Paul Reguerra chipped in with 12 markers and six boards, while Romel David brought hustle and energy, contributing four points and seven rebounds to help maintain momentum when the starters rested.
Oliver Agapito hauled down two rebounds, but his interior defense alongside Estong Ballesteros, who had two markers and a board, was crucial in clogging the lane and preventing Mongolia from penetrating the paint effectively.
The Philippines trailed 27-30 after the first quarter and were still down by one, 53-54, at halftime. The turning point came in the third quarter, where they mounted a 25-17 run to seize a 78-71 lead. Despite Mongolia’s late push in the fourth, which cut the lead to as little as six, the Filipinos remained composed, executing on both ends to seal the victory.
Before reaching the finals, Masters Pinoy endured a challenging group stage. They opened their campaign with a convincing win over another Mongolian team, 96-67, on Friday. The following day, they suffered a setback against a taller, more physical Lithuanian squad, 66-94.
Undeterred, the team bounced back on Sunday with a dominant 98-74 win over the same Mongolian team they would eventually meet in the finals, setting the stage for a redemption arc and ultimately, golden glory.
Winning coach Arlene Rodriguez also shared his joy with his fellow countrymen, proudly dedicating the team’s victory to the Philippines.
"To the Philippines, we’re bringing home the bacon (gold)," said Rodriguez in Filipino. "We hope you continue to support our athletes. This means so much to us, especially because it allows our country to be recognized by other nations through sports. In times of uncertainty and challenges back home, sports can keep our spirits alive."
"And to everyone who supported us—thank you very, very much," he added.
Architect Reynaldo Punongbayan, the team manager, also expressed pride in the team’s resilience and unity throughout the campaign.
"As the team manager, the burden to handle the team is really on me, but I am thankful that the coaches and the players were very supportive. Despite the limited budget that we had, we arrived here—and now, we’ve finally reached our goal: the gold in the 45-up division of the World Masters tournament," said Punongbayan.
With a combination of chemistry, veteran poise, and pride, the Masters Pinoy Pilipinas team showcased the strength of Filipino basketball on an international stage—bringing home not just the win, but a gold medal that reflects their hard work, resilience, and unity.
News
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.
The Alas Pilipinas Boys defeated Australia, 25-20, 30-28, 25-20, in the classification round of the 2026 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Boys' U18 Volleyball Championship on Thursday night at the Wuyuan River Gymnasium in Haikou, China.
The Philippines boosted its chances of securing a best-ever ninth-place finish in the tournament—an improvement from its 11th-place finish in the 2024 edition held in Bahrain.
The national team had to work hard throughout the match, especially in the second set, which was tied six times as Al-Raquib Dais traded kills with Australia's Eddie Kerwin.
After Alex Liang committed a costly service error, Dais pounded a strong crosscourt kill to secure the set for Alas, 30-28.
Australia was plagued by errors in the third frame as Dais continued his hot streak, allowing Alas to close out the match with a 25-20 victory.
They gave away 25 points through unforced errors, while the Philippines committed only 14.
The 16-year-old Dais finished with 25 points built on 21 attacks, three blocks, and one ace, while Terrence Marticion added 11 points.
Australia was led by King's 12-point output and Liang's 11-point performance, but it was not enough to earn a victory.
The Philippines will face either Kazakhstan or Hong Kong in the 9th-12th place classification semifinals.
In an unstoppable performance, the UST Junior Golden Tigresses claimed the top spot in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League Junior National Invitationals after sweeping fellow unbeaten St. John’s Institute in straight sets, 25-17, 25-23, to complete the elimination round with a perfect record.
The Golden Tigresses advanced to the semifinals as the tournament's No.1 seed following their latest triumph.
Anneli Manzanillo was named the MVP of the Match award after playing a key role in their victory. She finished with 8 points, highlighted by 4 attacks and 4 blocks in a dominant performance at the net.
The unbeaten campaign marked UST's first-ever perfect elimination round since 2023, when the Junior Golden Tigresses went on to capture the bronze medal in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Angeline Poyos was named Best Outside Hitter, while Bernadett Pepito earned the Best Libero award.
UST will await its semifinal opponent, while St. John’s dropped to a 4-1 record. The squad is scheduled to face Pacific Volleyball Academy (PVA) in its final preliminary-round match.
Gilas Pilipinas Boys beats Japan, 19-14, in the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Asia 2 finals in the Stop 3 final on Wednesday at Hextar World Empire City in Malaysia.
The Philippines secured their title triumph through strong teamwork, efficient offensive scoring, and control of the game's tempo. Gilas built an 18-10 cushion behind timely baskets and maintained its composure to close out the championship match, showcasing the depth that fueled its unbeaten Stop 3 run.
Cabs Cabonilas emerged as the Player of the Game after he contributed seven points in the final. The Gilas standout also played a crucial role throughout Stop 3, which he tallied 11 points against New Zealand and 10 more against Singapore to spearhead the Philippines' title-winning campaign.
Japan tried to keep the team within striking distance throughout the final and helped the squad stay competitive despite facing a double-digit deficit.
Despite their resilience, the team struggled to match the Philippines' scoring pace in the closing stages. Unable to contain Gilas Pilipinas' balanced attack, they found it difficult to generate consistent offense.
With the victory, Gilas moved into a tie with Belarus atop the conference standings with 240 points apiece, and will return to action in Stop 4 on Friday against New Zealand and Malaysia.
Cambodia stunned Alas Pilipinas in five sets, 25-23, 28-30, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8, to open its SEA V Cup campaign on a high note Wednesday at the Candon City Arena and deal the host nation an early setback in the tournament.
Despite the loss, newcomer Joshua Magalaman delivered an impressive performance for the Philippines, finishing with 21 points built on 15 attacks, four blocks, and two aces.
Jude Garcia also shone for Alas Pilipinas with 20 points on 18 attacks, one block, and one ace, providing a steady offensive presence throughout the match.
The Philippines struggled to maintain its momentum in crucial stretches, particularly in the deciding fifth set where Cambodia pulled away. Alas also committed untimely errors and failed to contain Cambodia’s attack, allowing the visitors to dictate the pace when it mattered most.
Cambodia, meanwhile, capitalized on its opportunities through efficient attacking and resilient defense. The Cambodians remained composed during extended rallies and key moments, showcasing the confidence that helped them secure one of the biggest wins in their recent history.
Veasna Voeum emerged as the Player of the Game after erupting for 33 points on 28 attacks, three blocks, and two aces to lead Cambodia’s breakthrough victory.
Cambodia is set to face reigning AVC Men's Cup champ Indonesia today, July 16, before taking on the home team on Friday. Alas is also on the verge of a must-win situation on the tournament against Indonesia.
