Former world champion Keith Thurman has significant credibility when discussing Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios, especially since he has faced both fighters. With their matchup just two weeks away in Las Vegas, Thurman’s insights hold weight.The 36-year-old boxer had different experiences against the two: he lost to Pacquiao by decision in 2019 but secured a victory over Barrios on the scorecards three years later. Now, as Barrios prepares to defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title against Pacquiao at the MGM Grand on July 19, Thurman’s perspective is drawing attention.Thurman shared his thoughts during a recent interview with Fighthype.com. He expressed confidence in the 46-year-old Pacquiao's ability to compete against the younger Barrios.“It’s hard to know, with the age of Pacquiao, what we’re gonna get from him,” said Thurman.“But I’ll tell you this, depending on his conditioning, depending on how much he can pop in on that in-step that he brought to me, that notorious fast in-step — if he can pop that and if he can get in, I know he can hurt Mario Barrios,” he added.However, Thurman pointed out a crucial aspect of Barrios’ fighting style that could give him an advantage over the legendary Filipino boxer: his jab. This fundamental punch has historically been a weak point for the aggressive Pacquiao.“That’s the big thing in Pacquiao’s favor; Barrios was hurt against [Abel] Ramos, and that’s the thing — the defense of Barrios is still suspect. He’s not hard to find. But one thing I took away, even though I beat him, is that he has a really good jab,” Thurman continued.At six feet tall, Barrios benefits from both youth and size compared to the smaller Pacquiao, who has been less active in the ring recently. As a result, oddsmakers have made the Mexican-American the favored contender. According to Thurman, Barrios possesses the necessary skills to fulfill his role as the favored fighter heading into the bout.“He (Barrios) used that jab when he beat [Yordenis] Ugas, and Ugas beat Pacquiao because he stayed long. So I think if Barrios works that jab of his, makes the old man use his legs and work really hard to get inside, I think he can pull it off,” Thurman finished.

Creamline bounced back from a failed third-set rally against sibling rival Choco Mucho, 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, December 3.The Cool Smashers, who were on the verge of winning the tournament with their third consecutive sweep, faltered in a thrilling third set before rallying in the fourth to force a tie with Cignal at the top of the rankings, both with identical 3-0 records."But of course, the Choco [Mucho] really, really won't lose easily. We know they will come back to the game so I just told the players that we should just enjoy ourselves, perform well so we can get the win," said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses."Let's not be pressured. It's just that, the [players] responded, because there are many [game] rallies, so it's really not just a battle, it's really endurance. So, it's good that we got the win," he added.

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.

Far Eastern University (FEU) ended a six-year drought against National University (NU) with a 27-25, 25-14, 25-23 victory on Sunday, February 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena.This marked the Tamaraws’ first win over the Bulldogs since February 16, 2019, breaking a seven-game losing streak that began with a loss in the second round of Season 81 on April 28, 2019.“Our work never stops. If you saw our training sessions, from the last game until now, we haven’t stopped practicing, and we haven’t rested. The dedication, hard work, and the strong family bond within the team, you can really see the results in the end,” said FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo.FEU made a comeback from a 22-24 deficit in the first set, eventually taking the lead at 26-25 following a miscue by Leo Ordialaes and a game-clinching block by Doula Ndongala.The Tamaraws dominated the second set and managed to hold off NU’s late rally in the third, where the Bulldogs trimmed the lead to 24-23. Dryx Saavedra sealed the win with the final point.

Jansen Rios buried a crucial three-pointer in the dying seconds of the game to give Meralco the win against Terrafirma, 96-91, on Friday night, December 6, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The win also lifted the Bolts the share of the lead in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup team standings with NorthPort Batang Pier at 3-0.It was a grind-out battle in the crucial stage of the game until Rios hit an unmolested triple at the right corner to give the Meralco a 94-91 lead and Chris Newsome sank two free throws after Dyip's erratic plays in the final 9.4 seconds of the game.The game seemed like it would be a blowout game when the Bolts erected a 67-51 lead in the third quarter but Terrafirma showed resiliency and even tied the game at 91-all with 1:05 left in the fourth and final period.Meralco coach Luigi Trillo was just glad his team hung on despite blowing a big lead.

Rhianne Hailie Jade Alix is already turning heads as a forward for the Philippine National Women’s Ice Hockey Team at the age of 16. She is known for her speed, agility, and smart puck control, Alix brings youthful energy and a fresh edge to the team’s offensive lineup.She is also a product of the Philippines’ growing grassroots ice hockey movement, Alix exemplifies the sport’s expanding reach among the youth. Her journey began in mall skating rinks, where curiosity quickly turned into passion—and then into national-level performance. Despite her age, she has earned the respect of her teammates and coaches with her relentless work ethic, sharp instincts, and playmaking ability.

AC Miner led the charge as the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles extended their winning streak with a commanding sweep of the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16, in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday, October 14, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Miner earned Player of the Game honors after posting 10 points built on 7 attacks, 2 aces, and 1 block, showcasing her all-around efficiency and composure at the net. Her presence on both offense and defense set the tone early, helping ZUS Coffee establish control and maintain momentum throughout the match.With the victory, ZUS Coffee improved to 2-0 in Pool B, solidifying its early position as one of the top contenders in the conference. Miner’s steady leadership and consistent play continue to be key factors in the Thunderbelles’ unbeaten start.ZUS Coffee will next face the Creamline Cool Smashers on Thursday, October 23, at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.

The Philippine women's national football team will play an intersquad exhibition game at the Mall of Asia Football Field on February 25 as part of their nine-day training camp in Manila.The Filipinas' home training camp kicks off a busy 2025 as they get ready for three important competitions.The exhibition game featuring the national team will take place at the recently finished MOA Football Field, giving Filipino supporters a unique chance to watch the team at home.

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles carved history in Davao, clinching their first-ever franchise championship after outlasting the powerhouse De La Salle University Lady Spikers, 25-17, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23, in the finals of the 2025 Davao Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, September 7, at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium and Cultural Center.Led by Guimaras native Jovelyn Gonzaga, the Thunderbelles capped an unbeaten four-game campaign, dropping just one set throughout the week-long tilt. Gonzaga, who made her much-anticipated return after sitting out the PVL Invitational, shone brightest as she claimed both the Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite Hitter awards.ZUS Coffee’s depth also came to the fore as team captain Cloanne Mondoñedo earned the Best Setter citation, Chinnie Arroyo was named Best Outside Hitter, and promising rookie Mycah Go took home the Best Server award.

It's now or never for ONE strawweight MMA world champion and the pride of the Philippines, Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.The Filipino mixed martial artist is now in the midst of showing the world that he is better than rival Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks ahead of their title unification bout at ONE 171:Qatar on Thursday, February, 20, 2025. This will be an epic World Title trilogy fight to unify the divisional belts.The two MMA star fighters first collided in late 2022 at ONE 164, when Brooks earned an impressive decision to catch up the win and capture the Filipino’s undisputed strawweight MMA crown.In March 2024, they had a rematch at ONE 166: Qatar, where the American MMA fighter delivered an illegal slam in the opening minute, losing via disqualification and giving the World Title back to the Filipino fighter.Now, it’s clear that “The Passion” will need to make some critical tactical adjustments to leave Qatar as the undisputed ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion.Pacio said in an interview that he would show no fear in the trilogy-capping match and need to be selective, and never let his rival dictate the action on his feet.“The thing that I want to show is a fighter who isn’t scared of what’s gonna happen in the ring, a fighter who isn’t scared to get taken down. A fighter who isn’t scared of being put in a precarious position on the ground. I want to show that I know what to do now,” he said.The 29-year-old MMA fighter admitted that he got “stagnant” due to being “too worried about getting taken down, and now, he will be more focused on attacking and making Brooks as uncomfortable as possible.“I was waiting for an opening, and that’s my error. That’s why he was able to land those clean shots. Credit to him because his footwork and movement really frustrated me,I want to show I have answers, that I’m not just gonna rely on my takedown defense to stop him, but I can battle him on the ground, even on my back.” “I want to show that he’s not just the one who’s a threat in wrestling. Maybe I’ll take him down, as well. Like [Demetrious Johnson], that ‘Mighty Mouse’ mentality,” he added. The Pacio-Brooks trilogy will be the main event of ONE 171, which will be held at the Lusail Sports Arena.

The Cignal HD Spikers swept the Akari Chargers in their match-up, 25-17, 25-15, 25-21, to secure the No. 3 seed in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday, February 18, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.Cignal finished the game in just one hour and 26 minutes.Vanie Gandler unleashed 15 points, including 14 deadly attacks to lead the team to their third straight victory, while Roselyn Doria-Aquino delivered 12 crucial points, including three kill blocks, that earned her Best Player of the Game honors.Rookie sensation Ishie Lalongisip continued her stellar play, chipping in 10 markers, while Jacqueline Acuña provided eight markers to complete a well-balanced assault. The win not only extended the HD Spikers winning streak but also etched their status as one of the team's to beat going into the knockout phase.

De La Salle University (DLSU) got back on track with a four-set victory over the University of the Philippines (UP), winning 25-22, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17 in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, March 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena.“There’s no weak team in the UAAP today. Every game you play is a challenge,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo in Filipino. “Every team plays a high level so you cannot say that the opponent is weak, that's why you need to overcome whatever it is that your opponent is going to throw at you.”Angel Canino led the way for the Lady Spikers with 24 points, scoring 20 off attacks and adding four blocks. Shevana Laput provided strong support with 21 points from 15 kills, three blocks, and three aces. Lilay del Castillo also contributed with 11 points, including four blocks and two aces.

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.

The first time Olympian Filipina fencer Samantha Kyle Catantan shared her advice on how to achieve our dreams and pursue our passion.

Italy cemented its volleyball dynasty after overpowering Bulgaria, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10, to capture back-to-back FIVB Men’s World Championship titles before a record crowd of 16,429 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.Yuri Romano spearheaded the win, delivering a masterclass in the gold medal showdown with 22 points built on 16 powerful attacks, one block, and five consecutive service aces that broke the game wide open late in the second set. Mattia Bottolo and Alessandro Michieletto complimented Romano's brilliance, providing steady power with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Alex Eala’s US Open campaign ended in the second round with a 4-6, 4-6 defeat to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa on Thursday morning (Manila time) at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.Despite strong support from Filipino fans on Court 7, the 20-year-old Filipina couldn’t build on her dramatic first-round win over world No. 14 Clara Tauson. Eala, ranked No. 75, led 4-3 in the opening set but lost momentum after a crucial forehand error, allowing the 95th-ranked Bucsa to take control and save three break points to secure the set.The second set slipped away after a 2-2 tie, as Eala’s unforced errors and a double fault proved costly. The result evened their head-to-head at 1-1, with Eala’s lone win over Bucsa coming in 2021.Despite the loss, Eala’s round-of-64 finish marks her best Grand Slam result to date, improving on earlier exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.Her breakthrough run to the US Open main draw came after a strong showing at the Miami Open, which propelled her into the WTA Top 100.Next up, Eala is slated to compete as the third seed at the WTA 250 São Paulo Open in Brazil, starting on September 8.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is exploring the possibility of forming a Gilas Pilipinas lineup that blends PBA pros and top collegiate talent for the upcoming 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, slated from December 9 to 20.With the PBA’s 50th season Philippine Cup deep in the elimination round by then, the PBA Board of Governors has approved the release of only a limited number of players for the SEA Games campaign.Veteran coach and Meralco consultant Norman Black is being tapped to lead the squad, pending a formal confirmation from the SBP. Black, who last coached a gold-winning SEA Games in 2011, confirmed his willingness to take on the task.

Rubilen "Bingkay" Amit began playing billiards during her teens, but her first sport was basketball until she turned 12. At that age, her classmates started to focus on other activities, so her father took the opportunity to introduce her to billiards.At first, she enjoyed playing with her cousins. But her father, Bobby, saw her potential and would incentivize her with prizes, such as shirts and pants, for winning each competition, until she often tagged along with her father at the Super Bowl in Makati.She stopped competing for a while to obtain a college degree in accountancy at the University of Santo Tomas. Eventually, she returned to 9-ball and won 10 gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.With her family’s encouragement, she was able to hone her keen eye and sensibilities. At the same time, she maintained composure under pressure, allowing her strategies to dismantle those of her opponents.

Barangay Ginebra blasts off Rain or Shine, 120-92, registering their biggest winning margin in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday, January 22.Head coach Tim Cone called it the Gin Kings' "best game" of the conference as they got back on track after dropping their last two games, improving to 7-4 and moving up to sixth place with one game left in the elimination stage.“We hadn’t put a good game together this conference and tonight was one of those games where everything came together. We played well defensively, we executed really well offensively, and we shot the ball well,” said Cone.“It was really our best game of the conference and it couldn’t come at a better time right now when we’re struggling to get into that top six position and getting ready for the playoffs,” he added.

The San Miguel Beermen held off a furious comeback by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to escape with a thrilling 83–81 victory in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai early Monday (Manila time).Leading by as much as 14 points, San Miguel weathered Ginebra’s late rally behind the leadership of June Mar Fajardo, who turned in another MVP-caliber performance with 17 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks.Veteran guard Kris Rosales delivered in the clutch, knocking down two crucial three-pointers in the final minutes to help the Beermen secure their second win in four games.“Our schedule is quite packed, but we still managed to execute our game plan and get the win,” said Fajardo, who also took time to thank the Filipino fans in Dubai for their unwavering support.Ginebra had a final chance to snatch the win after forcing a turnover in the last 3.7 seconds, but Scottie Thompson’s desperation three-pointer missed at the buzzer.Japeth Aguilar led the Gin Kings with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, while RJ Abarrientos added 17 points, and Thompson nearly posted a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.Despite Ginebra’s valiant effort, San Miguel’s composure and experience proved decisive, giving them a momentum boost as they continue their title campaign in the midseason conference.