Pinay weightlifter wins another bronze medal in the 2024 IWF World Championships

A new playmaker is set to light up the Solar Spikers’ universe.

Former De La Salle University captain and top draft pick Julia Coronel has officially found her new home in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), signing with the surging Capital1 Solar Spikers on Thursday, September 17.

The blockbuster move comes right after Coronel bid a graceful farewell to the Galeries Tower Highrisers, the franchise that selected her as the third overall pick in the historic 2024 PVL Draft.

A Grateful Farewell

Reflecting on her professional growth over the last two years, the stellar setter took to social media to express her profound gratitude for her formative time with the Highrisers.

"I have met so many versions of myself throughout this journey with each one teaching me something new and shaping me into the player and person that I am today," Coronel shared. "I am so grateful for all my coaches and teammates, both old and new, who have allowed me to learn, grow, and discover a little bit more of myself along the way." 

"Thank you, Galeries Tower Highrisers for the past two years. I am forever grateful to have been part of this family," she added.

Building a Powerhouse Grid

Coronel’s arrival instantly morphs Capital1 into one of the most intriguing and dangerous young cores in local volleyball.

By turning the page to this next chapter, Coronel links up with an explosive, star-studded roster that features fellow national team standouts Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos.

More importantly, her addition creates a luxury problem for Capital1's playmaker rotation. Coronel will be sharing quarterbacking duties with seasoned veterans Jas Nabor and Jaja Maraguinot —giving esteemed Brazilian head coach Jorge de Brito an embarrassment of riches at the setter position.

With a brilliant volleyball IQ, championship pedigree from Taft, and world-class guidance from Coach de Brito, Julia Coronel is locked, loaded, and ready to power up Capital1’s title ambitions.

The Elizabeth Means era for Philippine women's basketball has officially arrived, and it comes with a lethal dose of defensive havoc and offensive brilliance.

Gilas Pilipinas Women opened their 20th Asian Games campaign with a resounding statement, dismantling Kazakhstan, 86-58, on Thursday, September 17, at the Aichi International Arena.

The lopsided victory immediately propelled the Filipinas to a 1-0 start in Group B, signaling their serious intent to contend for a podium finish in this year's tournament.

The Elizabeth Means Show

All eyes were on the newly minted naturalized reinforcement Elizabeth Means, and she did not disappoint. Making her highly anticipated 5-on-5 debut for the national team, Means spearheaded a relentless Filipino attack.

After Kazakhstan opened the game with a brief 2-0 lead, Means and the Filipinas locked down defensively, orchestrating a massive breakaway that saw the lead swell to as many as 39 points. Means finished the evening with a spectacular game-high 23 points, 4 rebounds, and an elite 8 steals, completely disrupting Kazakhstan’s backcourt rhythm.

Complete Team Effort

While Means provided the frontline firepower, the Gilas local crew showcased the depth and chemistry built under the national program.

Stef Berberabe pulling the strings flawlessly, flirting with a double-double by putting up 11 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds.

The trio of Jhaz Joson, Kent Pastrana, and veteran sniper Janine Pontejos providing steady ammunition off the wings, chipping in 8 points apiece to keep the Kazakh defense guessing.

Kazakhs Stifled

Kazakhstan struggled heavily against the Filipinas' full-court pressure and active hands. Tamara Noiok paced the losing squad with 11 points and two assists, while Anna Bezgovada fought hard in the paint to salvage a 10-point, 15-rebound double-double, but their efforts were ultimately drowned out by Gilas' transition game.

What's Next?

With momentum firmly on their side, Gilas Pilipinas Women will look to make it two in a row when they return to action on Sunday, September 20, facing off against Hong Kong.

Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 AM, Manila time.

Before John “Rambo” Chicano stood on top of a SEA Games podium, he was simply a young father trying to make a living.

He needed a job to support his daughter, so he accepted work as a helper and janitor at a bike shop.

He had no elite athletic résumé.

In fact, he had one glaring problem for someone who would eventually become a triathlete:

He couldn't swim.

But someone saw something in him.

The bike shop owner was national triathlon coach Melvyn Fausto, who recognized potential in Chicano and decided to teach him from the ground up.

It was hardly an easy beginning.

Chicano was learning one of the most fundamental skills of triathlon while simultaneously trying to survive in the water. During his early training, he was still nearly drowning.

Fausto, however, kept teaching.

And Chicano kept showing up.

Just three months after beginning his training, he was already competing.

From learning to swim to racing for medals

What started as a job became the beginning of an unlikely sporting journey.

Chicano quickly developed into a competitive triathlete, eventually earning his first major SEA Games medal in 2017.

He won silver, finishing behind fellow Filipino teammate Nikko Huelgas.

Two years later, Chicano went one step further.

Competing on home soil at the 2019 SEA Games in Subic, close to his native Olongapo City, he captured gold in the men's individual triathlon.

The following day, he added another gold medal in the mixed relay.

The man who once struggled to stay afloat was now standing on top of a SEA Games podium.

More than a medal

Chicano's story is remarkable not simply because of the medals he eventually won.

It is because of where the journey began.

There was no obvious indication that a young father working as a bike shop helper and janitor would become a champion triathlete.

There was simply an opportunity—and someone willing to recognize his potential.

Fausto provided the guidance.

Chicano provided the commitment.

The transformation did not happen overnight.

It came through learning a skill he initially couldn't do, enduring difficult training and continuing to show up even when the path ahead was uncertain.

And that may be the most powerful lesson in his story.

Someone saw what others didn't

Sports often celebrates athletes after they have already made it.

We see the medals.

The podiums.

The national team uniform.

The victories.

What we don't always see is the person before all of that—the athlete who is still learning, struggling and trying to find a way forward.

John Chicano was once that person.

He was a young father looking for work.

A helper.

A janitor.

A man who couldn't even swim.

Then someone looked beyond the job he was doing and saw an athlete.

Chicano didn't waste the opportunity.

From cleaning a bike shop to becoming a two-time 2019 SEA Games gold medalist, his journey is a reminder that talent doesn't always announce itself.

Sometimes, it needs someone to notice.

And sometimes, all that person needs is the courage to keep showing up.

Athletes are people first.

And behind every champion, there may be a story that began long before anyone knew their name. 🇵🇭🔥

Off court only. Cool things only.

Gold comes with a price.

For three-time JJIF World Champion Annie Ramirez, that price was more than just countless hours on the mat.

It meant taking a financial risk on herself.

As she prepares to defend her place among Asia’s best jiu-jitsu athletes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Ramirez went as far as borrowing money to train in the United States—a sacrifice she believes was necessary to give herself the best possible preparation.

At 35, Ramirez already has the experience of a champion. But instead of relying solely on what she has accomplished, the veteran chose to push herself even further.

She traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where she trained alongside fellow Filipino jiu-jitsu standouts Alexandria Enrique, Jollirine Co and Marc Lim.

The objective was simple: expose herself to new techniques, tougher training and a higher level of competition before stepping onto the Asian Games stage.

But making that preparation happen was not easy.

“Umutang pa ako just to get that money,” Ramirez said.

Behind those words is a decision that reflects just how seriously she is taking another shot at Asian Games gold.

A champion who refused to settle

Ramirez already knows the feeling of winning at the continental level.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games, she ruled the women’s 57-kilogram division to capture gold for the Philippines.

For many athletes, reaching the top of the podium could be the culmination of a career.

For Ramirez, it became another reason to keep chasing more.

Rather than simply depending on her previous success, she searched for ways to improve—even if it meant making a personal financial sacrifice.

The United States training camp gave her an opportunity to sharpen her skills alongside other Filipino athletes and challenge herself in an environment designed to raise the level of her preparation.

It was an investment with no guaranteed return.

There was no promise of another gold medal.

Only the belief that better preparation could give her a better chance.

Betting on preparation

Elite sport often comes down to details.

A fraction of a second.

A better reaction.

A new technique.

A stronger opponent in training.

For Ramirez, the decision to train abroad was about creating those small advantages before the real battles begin.

The financial burden may eventually be repaid.

But the opportunity to compete for another Asian Games title is far more difficult to replace.

That is why Ramirez chose to make the gamble.

She could have relied on experience.

Instead, she chose preparation.

She could have been satisfied with being an Asian Games champion.

Instead, she chose to chase another one.

One more gold

At 35, Ramirez understands that opportunities at this level are precious.

Her résumé already speaks for itself: three JJIF world titles, an Asian Games gold medal and years of experience representing the Philippines.

But another Asian Games awaits.

And once again, Ramirez will have to prove herself on the mat.

This time, she arrives knowing exactly what she has invested to get there.

The borrowed money. The training. The sacrifices. The uncertainty.

All of it leads to the same destination.

The podium.

Ramirez has already paid the price before the first match begins.

Now comes the part that matters most.

Turning sacrifice into another gold medal.

One more fight.

One more opportunity.

One more chapter for a champion who continues to bet on herself. 🇵🇭🥋

For Agatha Wong, the road to the 2026 Asian Games is about more than medals.

It is about making every opportunity count.

With the next edition of the continental showpiece not scheduled for another five years, Wong knows just how precious her chance in Aichi-Nagoya will be.

The 28-year-old Philippine wushu standout is therefore leaving nothing behind as she prepares to compete once again on the biggest stage in Asia.

“I’m very excited to go to Japan and just give it my all,” Wong said during the Philippine delegation’s send-off at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

That determination comes from experience.

Wong already owns an Asian Games medal after winning bronze in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang edition. But she missed the podium in Hangzhou in 2022, leaving her with unfinished business heading into her latest campaign.

Now, the six-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist is chasing the one prize that has remained out of reach: Asian Games gold.

Between the classroom and the competition floor

Wong's preparation is even more remarkable because she is balancing elite-level sport with medical school.

A student at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Wong arrived at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Thursday wearing her school uniform.

For the send-off, she changed into the official Asian Games tracksuit of Team Philippines.

After the event, she switched back into her school uniform.

It was a simple moment that perfectly captured the two worlds Wong continues to navigate—student and elite athlete.

For Wong, however, the demanding schedule is manageable because of the support she receives from her school.

“It’s actually doable,” she said, noting that her school has supported her since she began medical studies.

That backing has allowed her to continue pursuing both medicine and wushu without giving up either dream.

A second chance at the Asian Games

Wong's Asian Games journey has already had its highs and lows.

Her bronze medal in Jakarta-Palembang announced her as one of the Philippines' leading wushu athletes.

Then came Hangzhou, where she failed to make the podium.

Rather than allowing that disappointment to define her, Wong has used it as another reason to keep pushing.

The upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Games now offer another opportunity.

And Wong understands that the window will not remain open forever.

“After this year’s Asian Games, I think the next one will be in five years,” she said. “So this one is really special. I hold it close to my heart.”

That sense of urgency has shaped her mindset.

She is not simply preparing to compete.

She is preparing to give everything she has.

Courage in the face of pressure

The Asian Games brings together the best athletes in the continent, and Wong admits that competing at such a level can be intimidating.

But fear has never been enough to stop her.

Instead, she embraces the discipline and courage required to perform when the stakes are highest.

“I’m giving it my all, all my effort. All the amount of discipline that I can muster and courage,” Wong said.

That mentality has helped build a decorated career that already includes six SEA Games gold medals.

Yet for all those victories, the Asian Games remains different.

The competition is tougher.

The stage is bigger.

And the opportunity is rarer.

One more shot

When Wong steps onto the wushu floor in Aichi-Nagoya, she will bring years of experience with her.

She will also bring the lessons from Jakarta-Palembang, the disappointment of Hangzhou, the discipline demanded by medical school and the belief that she still has more to give.

For a few minutes, there will be no lectures, examinations or textbooks.

There will only be Wong, her routine and the chance to make history.

The goal is clear.

Asian Games gold.

And with five years before the next opportunity comes around, Wong knows there is no reason to hold anything back.

One more chance. One more fight. One more shot at the gold.

This time, Agatha Wong isn't just showing up.

She's going all in. 🇵🇭🥋