TNT solidified their hold as the top team in Group A of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup after defeating Magnolia in the second round of eliminations with an 84-82 decision on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Tropang Giga with his monstrous performance. He produced 29 points alongside his career-high 25 rebounds.It was a bounce-back game for RHJ as he missed a double-double performance for the first time in his PBA career. In their last game against Meralco he still produced 22 points and nine assists, one shy away of his usual double-figures in either boards or dimes.Hollis-Jefferson said he came to the game prepared and made an effort to step-up as TNT was shorthanded in personnel as Rey Nambatac and Kim Aurin were out due to injuries.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters denied the NLEX Road Warriors a game win as Adrian Nocum delivered a late-game surge to secure a hard-fought 123-114 overtime victory in the 2024 PBA Governor’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, September 17.The Elasto Painters bounced back from their beatdown from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as they bravely conquered the standout performances of Road Warriors import DeQuan Jones posting a 49-point explosion and Robert Bolick tallying 28 markers, 11 boards, and nine assists. Adrian Nocum steered the overtime gameplay as he dropped seven points that gave the team a six-point cushion at 120-114. Anton Asistio then made the final say after making his 25th point, sealing the team’s sixth win. 

Alas Pilipinas Men is preparing for a significant two-week training in Italy as part of their preparations ahead of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni braces for a tough campaign for the men’s national volleyball team as the world No. 64 Alas Pilipinas was automatically grouped in Pool A, attempting to score an upset as they battle with Asian championship runner-up world Iran, 11-time African Championship titleist Tunisia, and reigning African champion Egypt slated September 12-28 next year.

The 30th edition of the PBA Press Corps Annual Awards will be full of history when they conduct it on September 24 at the Novotel Manila.First on the list will be the presence of former Commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios as he will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker on the awards night, and finally reconnect with his PBA family.Barrios was the longtime deputy commissioner to the late Emilio “Jun” Bernardino before becoming the main man of Asia's first pay-for-play league in 2008.He left the league in 2010 but continued to work hand-in-hand with the PBA when he became the executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). He held the position from that year until his retirement earlier this year.Barrios, along with the entire Press Corps led by its president Vladi Eduarte of the Abante Group, will recognize the PBA's top performers who made the previous season a memorable one.

“Super” Marcio Lassiter has become the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) all-time leader in three-points made on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Going into their game against sibling rival Barangay Ginebra, Lassiter just needed three 3-pointers to surpass Jimmy Alapag’s 1,250 record. And the SMB faithful expected that to happen.The sweet-shooting guard didn’t disappoint their fans as he reached the milestone in the first quarter alone where he drained four triples - the first two to tie the record of the “Mighty Mouse” while the third one broke it and the fourth one to set another milestone.He made another two in the second half to further etch his legacy as the best three-pointer in the first ever pay-for-play league in Asia.Lassiter finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from downtown to be awarded as the Best Player of the game and tallied a new three-point record of 1,254. The game ball used in the historic feat was awarded by Commissioner Willie Marcial during half. Lassiter was joined on center stage by wife and five children.Alapag, who texted Lassiter on the eve of the game before Cio targets the historical feat, is now ranked no. 2 with 1,250 3-pointers made while the “Triggerman” Allan Caidad is at third place with 1,242.Lassiter was the fastest and most efficient to get the “three-point king” honors as he did it in only 537 games, shooting 39 percent off the arc.Caidic did it in 598 games while shooting 37 percent. Alapag, on the other hand, did it in 601 games behind 36 percent shooting.The Beermen sniper still has a chance to make a better legacy by adding more three-pointers to his name as he is still an active player and not yet announcing when he will hang his sneakers.

Alas Pilipinas Men braces for tough challenges as they face strong adversaries in Pool A of the 2025 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, or FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.Host Philippines was grouped with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia in the first round of the world championship following the culmination of the drawing lots on Saturday, September 14, at Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City.Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni recognized the big responsibility and big challenge for the No. 64 Alas Pilipinas in the international championship scheduled for next year.

Ateneo de Manila University narrowly escaped a late-game surge by archrival De La Salle University to triumph, 65-62, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday, September 15, at Adamson Gym.The Lady Blue Eagles built a commanding 47-29 lead early in the third quarter anchored from dominant performances of reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kacey Dela Rosa, Junize Calago, rookie Kai Oani, and Nigerian center Sarah Makanjuola.Despite ruling the period with a comfortable 51-38 cushion, a game surge in the fourth quarter helmed by Luisa San Juan ignited a comeback for the Lady Archers. 

The San Miguel Beermen never looked back after their fiery start to contain their lead until the very end against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, 131-82 on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.In the first quarter of play, Marcio Lassiter already made history by draining four triples that made him the all-time league leader in three-pointers made by tallying his 1,252nd career threes. He surpassed Jimmy Alapag’s record of 1,250 when the Beermen raced to an early 37-13.Lassiter finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from downtown to be awarded as the Best Player of the game and tallied a new three-point record of 1,254. The game ball used in the historic feat was awarded by Commissioner Willie Marcial during half. Lassiter was joined on center stage by wife and five children.SMB also made history as they recorded a franchise-high 49-point lead at the end of game.The dominating win also gave them the ticket to the quarterfinals as they already reached six wins.Eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo made another monstrous double-double performance to back-up Lassiter. JMF scored 24 points, including a triple in the first quarter, and grabbed 17 rebounds.CJ Perez added 22 markers, while Terrence Romeo, import Jordan Adams, and Don Trollano combined for 37 points in helping the team deal Barangay Ginebra its biggest losing margin in franchise history.Rookie RJ Abbarientos led Ginebra in scoring with 19 points and Justin Brownlee helped by producing 16 quiet points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.The Gin Kings now have a 5-3 record and their four-game win streak has come to an end already in a game where coach Tim Cone suffered his biggest losing margin as a PBA coach.Ginebra’s next assignment will be Phoenix on September 18, 7:30 PM at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium while the Beermen will face the Elasto Painters on September 19, same time at the same venue.

The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters finally clinched a victory in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup when they defeated Blackwater Bossing, 119-114 on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.Import Brandone Francis and veteran RR Garcia gave the lift for the Fuel masters in the end game to get their first ever victory of the season.Francis scored a team-high 23 points, including seven in the last 49 seconds of play to put an end to the run of Bossing, which had a 20-point third quarter deficit.Garcia played a vital role too by contributing 16 of his 20 total points in the final canto when Blackwater came within 98-102 with 6:42 remaining in the game.Three more Fuel Masters scored in double figures to get their important win. Jason Perkins tallied 19 markers while Ricci Rivero added 14 and rookie Kai Ballungay had 12.

Filipino woodpusher Daniel Quizon earned the coveted Grandmaster title in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at BOK Sports Hall in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, September 14.The 20-year-old Quizon accomplished his dream of achieving the GM title after outlasting 64-year-old Grandmaster Igor Efimov in 37 moves of a King’s Indian Defense to earn two rating points needed to reach the 2500 ranking. With this feat, Quizon, who hails from Dasmariñas, Cavite, became the 17th Grandmaster of the Philippines.. The country last earned a GM was in 2011 with Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon. Meanwhile in 2017, Janelle Mae Frayna became the Philippines’ first and only woman Grandmaster. 

Calvin Oftana scored a team-high 25 points, while Kelly Williams and Jayson Castro provided veteran-smarts in TNT Tropang Giga’s 108-99 win over Meralco on Thursday night in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The trio powered the Tropang Giga from a mere 100-97 lead into a more comfortable 106-97 cushion with 50 seconds of play remaining.Oftana’s 25 points (eight in the fourth quarter) included sinking six three-pointers, grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing off three assists.TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also helped out by producing 22 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.Jayson Castro contributed 12 markers, four boards and four dimes, while Kelly Williams scored nine points in his 15:45 playing time, and did his usual job in the defensive end.

The Philippines had trouble-free opening round victories after it blanked both Aruba in the men’s division and Malawi in the women’s side via 4-0 scores in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday, September 11.Olympiad debutants International Master Daniel Quizon and Ruelle Canino pulled off impressive results with Quizon humbling FIDE Master Juan Pablo De Mey in 35 moves of a Sicilian Dragon on top board and Canino swatting Anne Simwabe on board four in an English Opening with a 35-move win as well.Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda commanded the tournament by delivering the first triumph for the country in this Olympiad edition by defeating Tupokiwe Msukwa in 35 moves of an English on board three.Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Shania Mae Mendoza, and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Canino, and then Quizon one by one posted victories by swooping down their helpless foes. Despite having trouble with his opponent, IM Paulo Bersamina capped the momentous day by overcoming Ilya Stetsenko on board two, completing the great start for the Philippine team coached by GMs Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales.The Filipino woodpushers are expected to field the same set of rosters in the second round of the 11-round tournament in their bid to stay on track for a potential top 20, possibly better, finish.

Magnolia Hotshots new import Shabazz Muhammad sank a running shot with 8.1 seconds remaining in the game to overcome the gritty Terrafirma Dyip, 99-98, and kept them in the solo third place of Group in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.The two teams traded clutch baskets in the final seconds of the game.Paul Lee drained a four-pointer to give the Hotshots a two-point lead, 97-95. In the next play, Dyip’s rookie Paolo Hernandez sank a step-back triple that brought his team back with the lead, 98-97. But the last laugh belonged to Muhammad when he delivered the winning basket with 7.8 seconds left in the game.Kevin Ferrer has one last say but his desperation three was way off the mark as Terrafirma stayed winless in the conference.It was also the 19th straight win of the Magnolia against Terrafirma since July 15, 2016. The Dyip was still called Mahindra Enforcer by then while the Hotshots were named Star.

The Creamline Cool Smashers extended their record as champions after bagging their 10th overall title and became the first Premier Volleyball League (PVL) team to win three conferences in one season. The untouchable Creamline conquered the gutsy Cignal HD Spikers in a five-set thriller, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13, to clinch the Invitational Conference crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, September 12.Creamline made history as they also won the All-Filipino Conference earlier this year and the Reinforced Conference just a week ago, completing a historic grand slam. The Cool Smashers rallied behind the efforts of Best Outside Hitter awardee and American import Erica Staunton who fired 29 points coming from 26 attacks, while Reinforced Conference double MVP Bernadeth Pons led the locals with 27 markers anchored on 24 attacks and two aces, also tallying 16 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.

In 2016, Janine Nicandro shocked the basketball-crazy Filipino nation as she became the first female referee to officiate pay-for-play games in the Philippine Basketball Association.Janine, known to basketball teams as “Referee #41”, is a proud daughter of Pagsanjan, Laguna.In an exclusive interview with our team, Janine opened up about her referee journey - one that started when she went to Manila together with her bestfriend Marilee, who also became the league’s third-ever lady referee.They decided to explore Manila to get out of their comfort zone and earn a better income.“I went to Manila with Ate Mao (Marilee) Orioste. Then attend training with other female applicants…Ayeez Ceballos, Jill Santiago, Faye Tria, Jane Umali and Ma’am Edith Boticario,” she said.Together with some other female applicants, Nicandro started going to training camps and improving her skills to climb up the ladder of success.She first started in the PBA D-League academy in 2014 before jumping to the pro league after two years.During her first time officiating an official PBA game, she felt different kinds of emotions and feelings.

Adamson University clinched two wins in a row after outclassing De La Salle University, 65-54, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, September 11, at the Araneta Coliseum.The Lady Archers bounced back in the third frame after falling behind 19-33 in the second, forcing a 35-all deadlock with 6:07 to go on an Arabell Bacierto triple.However, the Lady Falcons reinstated its advantage as Elaine Etang, Jam Meniano, and Brianna Bajo led a strong finish in the third quarter for an 11-point lead heading in the fourth, 48-37.Etang, who was part of Gilas Women’s 3x3 roster that competed in the FIBA 3x3 Nations League, paced the team with 15 points, five rebounds, and five steals.

San Miguel Beer got back at NLEX with a 119-114 win that boosted its playoff chances in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday night.The Beermen brought in a new reinforcement in Sheldon Mac in lieu of Jordan Adams, but the locals carried much of the load to record a 4-2 slate in Group B.They are now tied with Barangay Ginebra at second place, behind the pacesetting Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 5-1.CJ Perez led the scoring for SMB with 24 points, together with five rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo added 17 markers and nine boards.

Creamline Cool Smashers and Cignal HD Spikers are set to lock horns for the grand slam at the 2024 season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, September 12.The finals-bound Cool Smashers decisively crushed Farm Fresh Foxies’ podium hopes with a straight-set victory, 25-15, 25-13, 25-19, in the final Invitational Conference preliminary game.Creamline secured the finals berth with Jema Galanza’s triumphant return to the lineup after her duties with Alas Pilipinas. Galanza posted a game-high 13 points anchored on 11 attacks and two blocks, booting out Farm Fresh for a podium finish.

Alec Stockton, Bryan Santos, and Schonny Winston pulled out the trigger in the end game to give Converge a 107-99 win over NorthPort on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The FiberXers led by the trio came out in a big 18-3 run late in the game to gain the victory and cut the team’s three-game slump. They are now tied with Batang Pier at fourth place in Group A with 3-4 identical records.Stockton produced 21 points including a three-point play in the dying minutes of the game, while Santos finished with 15 markers including two crucial back-to-back triples that brought them back to the game, and Winston added 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds.Converge coach Franco Atienza said that they started well at the first half of play but struggled in the third period when NorthPort tied the game at the end of it after posting a 16-point second quarter lead.