Aleona Denise "Dindin" Antonio Santiago-Manabat stands as one of Philippine volleyball’s most prominent and enduring figures.Born on September 26, 1993, Dindin carved her legacy through exceptional skill, unwavering resilience, and a decorated career that has spanned collegiate, professional, and international play.Hailing from a family of athletes—her brother, Axel Leonard, played for the National University (NU) Bulldogs and her sister Jaja Santiago is a standout in Japan’s V.League—Dindin's journey has been a blend of talent, determination, and passion for the game.She began her collegiate volleyball career with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses before transferring to the NU Lady Bulldogs, where she became team captain and led the squad with distinction.Dindin’s collegiate years also saw her rise in the Shakey’s V-League, where she served as a guest player for several teams, delivering crucial performances in championship and bronze medal matches.Notably, she helped Smart-Maynilad Net Spikers secure a runner-up finish in the 2013 SVL Open Conference and aided PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters in clinching bronze during the 11th season.

In a crucial moment for Petro Gazz, veteran Nicole Tiamzon delivered when it mattered most.With the Angels reeling from two straight losses and fighting for survival in the PVL On Tour, Tiamzon emerged as a steadying force, firing 16 points on 15 attacks and a block to help Petro Gazz turn back Choco Mucho in four sets, 20-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-17, Tuesday night, July 29, at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.It was the perfect time for Tiamzon to break out, stepping into the spotlight as Petro Gazz navigated its first match without Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara. Under interim tactician Brian Esquibel, the Angels played with renewed energy and composure—traits Tiamzon embodied throughout the match.

Barangay Ginebra finished the elimination round of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup with a thrilling victory against Meralco, 91-87, on Chinese New Year at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.The Gin Kings closed the preliminaries with an 8-4 win-loss record, tying the Converge FiberXers, while the Bolts dropped to 7-4.The game results paved the way for the NorthPort Batang Pier to earn a twice-to-beat advantage going into the quarters and they also got the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history.It was a close battle between the two rivals in the end after Meralco climbed back from a 17-point deficit despite playing All-Filipino as their import Akil Mitchell did not play due to back spasms. The loss halted the three-game win streak of the Bolts.

TNT Tropang Giga was unable to hold on to the tight defense of Northport Batang Pier, which won its fourth straight game, 100-95, on Sunday night at the Ynares Center, Antipolo City.However, TNT managed to cut the lead to 97-95 with 1:43 left on the game clock when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made a free throw, but Joshua Munzon successfully converted his three-point shot to keep the Batang Pier from losing the lead.“I just take that shcot with confidence. The play wasn't even for me but [my teammates] found me. I was open and I was happy that I made that shot. I was confident in myself. Every time I shoot the ball, I think it's going in," said Munzon.Northport Batang Pier assistant coach Renzy Bajar said the key to their win was their strong defense against TNT.The Batang Pier also took advantage of the suspension of big man Poy Erram, who was penalized for hitting Glenn Yang in TNT’s conference-opening loss to Hong Kong Eastern this weekend. 

 After clinching the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup title on Friday, March 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the TNT Tropang Giga now set their sights on the franchise’s first-ever grand slam.TNT sealed the hard-fought seven-game series in dramatic fashion, with the final showdown extending into overtime. The victory was powered by the relentless efforts of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Finals MVP Rey Nambatac.Hollis-Jefferson led the charge with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block—maintaining his unbeaten record in three PBA Finals appearances.Nambatac, meanwhile, delivered when it mattered most, dropping 22 markers on four three-pointers, grabbing two boards, and dishing out four dimes to cap off his stellar series performance.

Converge registered a resounding 116-87 victory over new-look Terrafirma to kick off their Philippine Basketball Association or PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup campaign on Wednesday, November 27, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.The FiberXers delivered 14 three-pointers in the game, including nine in the decisive second half that completely took the fight out of the Dyip. Converge established the tone by defeating the Dyip 34-16 in the first period. They also showed composure by overcoming Terrafirma's third quarter storm.Import Cheick Diallo, who played five seasons in the NBA, had an outstanding debut, dominating the paint with a monster double-double of 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting and 16 rebounds with two assists, a steal, and a block.“When we got Cheick, we know we are getting a high-motor guy, athletic, can jump out of the gym. What we saw now is what we expected him to play like,” Converge head coach Franco Atienza said.

The Gilas Pilipinas defeated New Zealand for the first-time ever, 93-89, to open the Window 2 of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifier 2025 in Mall of Asia Arena Thursday night, November 21. With the victory, Gilas has finally broken a four-game losing streak in its head-to-head against the World No. 22 squad.Gilas had a sluggish start, going down 0-8 in the opening minutes. However, they slowly climbed out of the hole and took the lead, 20-18, following a Calvin Oftana trey. Until in the remaining minutes in fourth quarter, the host got the play it needed as Chris Newsome drained an open three-pointer with 1:09 left, allowing the Philippines to extend its lead to seven.Kai Sotto finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Justin Brownlee paced the Filipinos with 26 points, while three other Gilas players scored in double digits: Scottie Thompson (12 points), Newsome, and Dwight Ramos (11 points each). 

The controversial result of the super-featherweight title clash between Filipino boxing star Charly Suarez and Mexican champion Emanuel Navarrete on May 11, 2025, is set to be overturned following a thorough review by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).The CSAC is expected to change the official outcome of the fight to a no-contest — a decision that could pave the way for a high-stakes rematch.Navarrete originally retained his WBO super-featherweight title via an eighth-round technical decision. The bout was halted due to a cut above Navarrete’s left eyebrow, which referee Edward Collantes ruled was caused by an unintentional headbutt. This led to the judges' scorecards being used, resulting in a win for Navarrete.However, after conducting an extensive post-fight review, the CSAC determined that the cut was actually caused by a legal punch from Suarez in Round 6 — not a clash of heads, as initially ruled. Video replays supported this finding, contradicting the original call.Had this been correctly identified during the bout, Suarez would have won the title by technical knockout (TKO), as the injury would have forced a stoppage.While replay official Jack Reiss maintained there was "no conclusive evidence" to reverse the referee’s decision at the time, the CSAC’s subsequent investigation provided clarity. As a result, the fight’s outcome is now poised to be amended to a no-contest.The WBO is expected to mandate a rematch — a move welcomed by both camps. In fact, Top Rank Vice President of Operations Carl Moretti voiced his support for a rematch immediately following the fight.If the ruling is officially changed to a no-contest, it would not only revive Charly Suarez’s shot at the world title but also set the stage for what could become one of the most compelling rivalries in boxing this year.

Djanel Cheng, born on August 28, 1994, is a Filipino volleyball player serving as a setter for the Petro Gazz Angels in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). Known for her smart playmaking and steady leadership on the court, Cheng has built a steady career across multiple local volleyball leagues. She is the sister of fellow volleyball player Desiree Cheng.Cheng began her collegiate volleyball career at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB), where she played a key role in leading the Lady Blazers to their historic first NCAA women’s volleyball championship in Season 91.

Para swimmer Christian Benedict Paulino won the first gold medal in the ongoing 8th Philippine National Para Games being held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.Paulino, who represented Quezon City LGU, won the men's 400m freestyle S6-S7 in six minutes and 55.61 seconds, beating Zach Lucas Osioma of Cadiz City, who clocked 8:27.50.According to Paulino, this is his first win in the Para Games so he is happy to have won the gold medal and said that it is also his dream to participate in the Paralympics."This is my first time winning in the National Para Games. I am happy because I want to pursue my dream of participating in the Paralympics," Paulino said in Filipino.Paulino added that he also wants to achieve what his idol, Para swimmer Ernie Gawilan has accomplished."I also want to achieve what my brother Ernie accomplished. He is my idol," Paulino added. Meanwhile, other gold medalists on the first day of the Para Games were Justine Oliveros of Laguna for the men's 400m freestyle S8, S9, S10 and Tokyo Paralympian Gary Bejino for the men's 50m butterfly S6 and S7.

National University (NU) asserted its dominance in the UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s division against the University of the Philippines (UP) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 9.After dominating the first two sets, the Bulldogs struggled in the third, allowing UP to build a commanding 12-5 lead and eventually force a fourth set. However, NU regained control in the final frame, breaking an 18-18 tie with a decisive 4-0 run to defeat the Fighting Maroons,  25-12, 25-15, 15-25, 25-22, improving to a 4-1 record in the men’s tournament.NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin admitted that unforced errors cost them the third set, saying, “We lost our momentum whenever we gained it.” He emphasized also the importance of confidence in the fourth set, ensuring the team played with certainty and avoided self-doubt.  Buds Buddin led the charge with 22 points, while Leo Aringo and Leo Ordiales added 16 and 14 markers, respectively. 

Buding Duremdes is set to don a new shade of red with Cignal for the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.The Cignal HD Spikers announced the development on Wednesday, November 20, on a social media post.“A NEW SHADE OF RED. We’re excited to welcome the awesome energy of Buding Duremdes to the Cignal HD Spikers in this 2024-25 PVL Season!,” the post read.

Another bronze medal was delivered by Rosegie Ramos for the six-man Philippines team in the IWF World Championships in Bahrain. The 20-year-old weightlifter achieved a total lift of 88kgs in the snatch and 105kgs in the clean-and-jerk for a total lift of 193kgs in the 49-kg category.Ri Song Gum of North Korea dominated the women’s 49-kg event after lifting a total of 213kgs behind a snatch of 91kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 122kgs.Meanwhile, Linxiang Xiang setteled for a silver after lifting a snatch of 92kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 120kgs for a total lift of 212kgs.Her success was followed by another bronze medal for the Philippines when Fernando Agad Jr. excelled in the men’s 55-kg category.After receiving the medal, the weightlifter from Zamboanga City expressed her gratitude in a long post on her official social media page.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has formally asked the UAAP to allow college players to enter the upcoming PBA Rookie Draft without losing their eligibility for the UAAP basketball season.PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed the request, which comes with the Rookie Draft scheduled for September 7—just 12 days before UAAP Season 88 tips off at UST on September 19.Marcial assured that drafted players would still be able to complete their UAAP commitments before reporting to their PBA teams.“We believe this is a win-win for both leagues. Players will be motivated to give their best in the UAAP, knowing their college exposure will help launch their pro careers,” Marcial said.The PBA’s 50th season opens on October 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the Philippine Cup as the season-opener.Marcial added that the league and its teams are prepared to assist student-athletes as they transition to the pros while fulfilling their collegiate duties.“We’re open to extending support to UAAP draftees so they can compete at the highest level in the UAAP,” he added.If approved, the proposal would allow top collegiate stars to explore professional opportunities without sacrificing their final UAAP campaigns—creating a smoother bridge between the country’s premier collegiate and professional basketball leagues.

The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 will begin on September 12 with the opening match between the host nation, the Philippines, and Tunisia at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.The 64th-ranked Philippine men’s volleyball team will play world No. 24 Tunisia, an 11-time African champion, to round out the largest edition of the global tournament.After its tournament debut, Alas will take a four-day break before starting its home campaign against the current African champion and world No. 20 Egypt.The host team will play Iran, the second-highest ranked Asian team, on September 18 to wrap up pool play in what may be a make-or-break matchup for a berth in the Round of 16.The remaining eight-pool, 32-team field will be divided across the Pasay City site  and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.Pools D featuring USA, E piloted by Slovenia, and H starring Brazil will play at the MOA Arena with Alas and Pool A.Meanwhile, Pool B with top-ranked Poland, C with second-seeded France, F with powerhouse Italy and G with fan-favorite Japan will stage pool play at the Big Dome.The knockout stage will take place in Pasay over eight days, from September 20 to September 28.

It is a new era for Philippine sports as the newly-appointed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman, John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, rolls out a revitalized roadmap for the agency. At the heart of Gregorio’s leadership are three strategic priorities: enhancing the welfare of the athletes, professionalizing sports governance and facilities management, and harnessing potential sports tourism.But the biggest takeaway from his address was a game-changing announcement: starting this August, all national athletes and national coaches will receive a Php 5,000 monthly increase in their allowance.

The Pilipinas Aguilas captured the Women's Maharlika Basketball League (WMPBL) championship against the UST Growling Tigresses, concluding the league's inaugural tournament yesterday, April 23, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The WMPBL has successfully staged its first-ever tournament this season, and now, it’s time to turn professional—offering hope to all Filipinas who aspire to pursue a career in basketball beyond college and national team opportunities.This is now clear proof that the league is ready to take the next step in the world of women’s basketball.Basketball is a sport loved by many Filipinos, and this league is now ready to give Filipina athletes a true career path in the sport they are passionate about.In an exclusive interview with Scoreline.ph, WMPBL Commissioner Haydee Ong expressed her excitement and officially announced the league’s upcoming transition to professional status.“We went to GAB (Games and Amusements Board) to formally declare that the WMPBL will launch its pro league this coming June. Of course, I’m one of the happiest that it’s finally pushing through. But of course, we still have a lot to do to make the league sustainable,” said Ong.Commissioner Ong also emphasized that she hopes the league will remain stable. She is committed to ensuring the league evolves for the better, aiming to provide lasting opportunities for both present and future generations of women’s basketball players to showcase their talents.“Our league needs to become stable first, and the team criteria are very important—who we allow to join the first regular season of the WMPBL. So we will thoroughly scrutinize everything to make the league even better. This is a great opportunity for the present and future generations of women’s ballers,” Ong added.

Converge took down Phoenix, 116-105, to post its first win streak in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, December 19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The FiberXers overcame an 18-point deficit in the early stages of the first period and rallied in the second half to improve their record in the standings to 4-2 to secure their first consecutive conference victory."We just stuck on. We didn't panic. We returned on how we run our system, run our offense and defense. It's nice because we have six players in double digits," said coach Franco Atienza, expressing his satisfaction with his team's effort in making a comeback.The FiberXers gradually narrowed the gap by scoring more points than the Fuel Masters. Converge eventually tasted their first lead after two free throws from Bryan Santos that placed them ahead 69-67 at 5:53 in the third session.Halfway through the fourth quarter, the FiberXers shattered any hopes of a final surge of momentum for the Fuel Master with Alec Stockton leading the 9-0 run, ending with a pair of charities courtesy of Jordan Heading, 105-94, with 3:38 left on the clock.

The TNT Tropang Giga notched their back-to-back wins after outlasting Blackwater as they cruised to a 109-93 victory in the 49th Season of PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The Tropang Giga improved their record to 2-2 after opezning the conference with two consecutive losses. Coach Chot Reyes claimed during the postgame interview that they intended to block George King from the long arc. Consequently, the Blackwater import only attempted that range once out of six."During the last several days, we focused on how to stop George King. We all know his ability from the four-point line, so we really made it a point, we were very intentional in guarding the four-point line against George," said Reyes.

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is back in action and making headlines once again — this time not just for her powerful play, but also for achieving a new career milestone. Fresh off her historic run at the Miami Open, the 19-year-old continues to climb the WTA rankings and now enters the clay court season with momentum on her side.As of April 14, Eala has officially reached a career-high world ranking of No. 72, gaining three spots since her sensational semi final-finish in Miami. Starting that tournament as World No. 140, she shocked the tennis world by taking down some of the biggest names in the game — including Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and top seed Iga Swiatek — before narrowly falling to Jessica Pegula in a gritty three-set match.Now, after a short break from competition, Eala returns to the court at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, her first appearance on clay this season. Notably, she enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed — a first for the young star in any WTA-level event.