PHOTO COURTESY: UAAP MEDIA
KEANNA WREN
UAAP Women’s Basketball: UST clobbers UP, Ateneo prevails over UE
The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses secured its second straight win after hammering University of the Philippines, 84-60, in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, October 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Tacky Tacatac delivered her best performance of the season after unloading four triples to finish with 20 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter that gave UST an 84-58 cushion with 1:20 remaining on the clock.
“I hope she (Tacky) continues to play well. Like they say, a shooter will always be a shooter. It will give us more space in our offense because the defenders are focused on Tacky,” UST head coach Haydee Ong said post-game.
Kent Pastrana as usual sustained her outstanding performance, finishing with 21 markers, highlighted by three triples, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals to improve the Growling Tigresses record to 5-1.
UST rookie Karylle Sierba recorded 11 markers, six dimes, three boards, and two deflections, while Season 85 MVP Eka Soriano chipped in five points, eight rebounds, and four steals in the winning effort.
The Growling Tigresses will aim to conclude the first round on a winning note against Far Eastern University on Saturday, October 5, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
On the other hand, Ateneo de Manila University continued their winning ways in the women’s basketball tournament of the UAAP Season 87 after outclassing University of the East with a 90-62 victory.
Reigning UAAP Season 86 MVP Kacey dela Rosa paced the Blue Eagles with a spectacular performance, finishing 19 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and two assists, earmarking her sixth double-double of the season.
Nigerian student-athlete Sarah Makanjuola complimented Dela Rosa’s effort after tallying 14 markers and 17 boards, along with three blocks and two steals that steered Ateneo’s records to 4-2 win-loss.
The Blue Eagles outscored UE in the second quarter to take a commanding 50-27 lead at half time. Ateneo never looked back after that, increasing their advantage to a game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter to seal their fourth win in six games.
“I think we knew that these two games would be very important heading into the match against NU. We were able to execute the game plan, and I think we expect to get better as the season goes along,” expressed Blue Eagles head coach LA Mumar.
In addition to Dela Rosa and Makanjuola’s points contribution, Junize Calago posted 15 points, along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
A standout performance was also dispatched by rookie Kai Oani, who achieved the best outing of her UAAP career with 13 markers, three dimes, and three deflections.
The Blue Eagles will aim to extend their winning record when they play against National University on Saturday, October 5, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
First Game:
UST (84) – Pastrana 21, Tacatac 20, Sierba 11, Relliquette 6, Soriano 5, Santos 4, Maglupay 4, Ambos 4, Pineda 3, Dionisio 2, Bron 2, N. Danganan 2, Pescador 0, Amalong 0, Serrano 0, Lopez 0.
UP (60) – Pesquera 20, Ozar 14, Bariquit 14, Maw 4, Tapawan 3, Barba 3, Jimenez 2, Sauz 0, Vingno 0, Solitario 0, Quinquinio 0, Lozada 0.
Quarter Scores: 26-16, 44-27, 59-53, 84-60.
Second Game:
Ateneo (90) – Dela Rosa 19, Calago 15, Makanjoula 14, Oani 13, Cancio 7, Villacruz 6, Cruza 4, Eufemanio 3, Fetalvero 3, Nieves 2, Aquirre 2, Olivenza 1, Angala 1, Batongbakal 0, Lopez 0, Salgado 0.
UE (62) – Ganade 15, Kone 10, Lacayanga 9, Ronquillo 8, Ruiz 8, Buscar 4, Cruz 4, Gomez 3, Yanes 1, Vacalares 0, Delig 0.
Quarter Scores: 15-15, 50-27, 67-43, 90-62
News
The world’s top young gymnasts will gather in Manila from November 20 to 24 for the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, to be held at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.
More than 75 countries will take part in the prestigious global event, showcasing the next generation of gymnastics stars competing for world titles and glory.
This marks the first time the Philippines is hosting the Junior World Championships — a milestone moment for the country’s gymnastics community. The event highlights not only the athletes’ talent, passion, and discipline, but also the growing presence of gymnastics in the Philippines and across Asia.
The competition is expected to deliver world-class performances as rising stars strive to make their mark on the international stage and inspire future generations of gymnasts.
The countdown to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is on! Organizers officially unveiled the full competition schedule, setting the stage for a spectacular edition of the Games that promises to be both historic and inclusive.
The Opening Ceremony will take place on July 14, 2028, with the Closing Ceremony scheduled for July 30, marking 17 action-packed days of elite competition across 49 venues. A record 11,200 athletes will compete in 51 sports, making LA28 the biggest Olympic Games in history.
One of the most exciting highlights? The women’s 100-meter dash will headline Day 1, signaling a bold step toward celebrating women’s excellence in sports. “We want to start the Games with a bang — showcasing the fastest women in the world,” said Shana Ferguson, LA28 chief of sport.
For the first time ever, the Olympics will feature an equal or greater number of women’s teams compared to men’s, with 50.5% of athletes being women — a groundbreaking milestone for gender equality on the world stage.
In another first, athletics will span the entire Games, integrating tradition with innovation. Meanwhile, fans can look forward to the highly anticipated “Super Saturday” on July 29, which will feature 26 finals across 23 sports, including basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, golf, football, tennis, and more — promising one of the most thrilling single days in Olympic history.
The LA28 Games also mark the return of baseball and softball, the long-awaited comeback of cricket after over a century, and the Olympic debuts of flag football and squash — further expanding the Olympic spirit to new audiences around the globe.
As the world prepares for this monumental celebration of athleticism and unity, LA28 stands as a beacon of innovation, diversity, and inclusion — a testament to how the Olympic movement continues to evolve with the times.
Nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo is auctioning off his first MVP trophy to help raise funds for typhoon relief efforts, after his home province of Cebu was severely affected by Typhoon “Tino.”
According to the Office of Civil Defense, 232 people have died, 112 are missing, and 512 were injured due to the storm’s devastation.
“Masakit makita na ang daming nawalan — bahay, hanapbuhay, at pamilya,” said Fajardo “Alam kong mahirap bumangon, pero tiwala lang tayo, pray lang tayo kay God. Magpo-provide naman si God para sa atin.”
Fajardo said he chose to auction his first MVP trophy — a symbol of his early sacrifices and hard work — because it holds special meaning both to him and to his fellow Cebuanos.
‘Yung trophy na ’yon, espesyal sa akin kasi years of hard work ’yon. Pero mas espesyal sa akin ang mga Cebuano,” he shared.
Fajardo won the MVP award in just his second season in the PBA — the first of his record-breaking nine MVP titles.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) has upheld Meralco’s 85-76 victory over the Taoyuan Pilots in their match held last Saturday in Ilagan, Isabela, even as the Bolts offered to replay the game in the spirit of sportsmanship.
Under EASL rules, each team may enlist two world imports, one naturalized player, and one Asian heritage recruit — but only three of them can be on the court at the same time. A misunderstanding of this rule led to Meralco fielding four imports simultaneously for a total of over 9 minutes. EASL records show Meralco outscored Taoyuan 22-15 during that stretch.
EASL CEO Henry Kerins stated the incident was unintentional and did not significantly impact the outcome. Both teams acknowledged the oversight, and Taoyuan accepted the result. EASL requested FIBA not to assign the same game commissioner to future matches to ensure stricter enforcement of the rule.
In addition, Meralco received penalties for other violations: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was fined $2,000 for skipping pre- and post-game interviews, while coach Nenad Vucinic was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike gestures, with a warning of future suspension.
With the ruling, Meralco’s EASL record stands at 1-2. The Bolts next face the Macau Black Bears on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum, with all ticket proceeds going to disaster relief for Cebu and nearby provinces.
The Black Bears, making their season debut, will be led by Damian Chong Qui, supported by Omar Peek Green, Torrance Watson, and Phoenix Shackelford.
In a show of unity and commitment, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and the Office of the Chef de Mission (CDM) came together for a Coordination Meeting of the Task Force for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, set to take place in Thailand next year.
The meeting, attended by POC Secretary General Atty. Wharton R. Chan, PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy Jr., and Chef de Mission Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, underscored the country’s collective effort to ensure smooth preparation and strong representation in the regional meet.
According to the POC, the session aimed to strengthen coordination among key sports bodies and address logistical, administrative, and performance-related plans for the Filipino athletes bound for the 2025 SEA Games.
“This coordination is essential to ensure that our athletes get the support and structure they need to perform at their best,” said Dr. Canlas.
With a spirit of “Strength in Unity,” the collaboration signals a unified front for Team Philippines — as the nation’s top sports leaders rally behind the athletes set to bring pride and glory to the country in Thailand.
