Shaina Nitura made a rousing V-League debut for Adamson University, while College of Saint Benilde held firm against a late rally by Colegio de San Juan de Letran as both squads preserved their spotless records in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, Tuesday, August 12, at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center in Manila.Fresh from her stint with Alas Pilipinas in the SEA V.League, the Adamson sophomore outside hitter unleashed a 28-point explosion off 27 from attacks and one from a block to cruise the Lady Falcons past Far Eastern University in a five-set thriller, 25-22, 25-21, 17-25, 22-25, 15-11.Nitura came up big in the decider, firing five crucial points to give Adamson a 23-20 cushion before closing out the match and notching the team’s second straight win.Head coach JP Yude admitted that passing woes in the middle frames nearly derailed their momentum but lauded the grit his players showed down the stretch.“We started as a new group, and this is where we’re gaining our confidence. This is also where their character is really tested,” Yude said.Frances Mordi backed Nitura with 15 points, while Lhouriz Tuddao and MG Del Moral chipped in eight each for Adamson, which now shares the tournament lead with Benilde. FEU’s Gerzel Petallo finished with 18 points, while Jaz Ellarina added 16, including seven blocks.

The Philippine National Weightlifting Team, is aiming to win a medal in the 2024 Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championships to be held in Doha, Qatar, which started last Sunday, December 15 and will end on Christmas Day, Wednesday, on the 25th of December.The team is set to compete in the women’s youth division with Althea Bacaro in the -40kgs category where she submitted a total lift of 122 kgs.Joining Bacaro are Princess Jay Ann Diaz (40kgs and total-125kgs), Alexsandra Ann Diaz (45kgs), Jeaneth Hipolito (45kgs), Kim April Inan (-49kgs), Jhodie Peralta and Rosalinda Faustino in the -55kgs.Meanwhile, the men’s youth division is composed of Aldrin Colonia (-49kgs), Eron Borres (-49kgs), Prince Keil Delos Santos (-55kgs) and Jose Masangkay Dayao III (-67kgs). Lifting in the women’s junior category are Angeline Colonia (-45kgs) Rosejean Ramos (-45kgs) and Lovely Inan (-49kgs).Also participating in the men’s junior division are Eron Borres (-55kgs), Prince Keil Delos Santos (-55kgs), Eleaphraime Limmong (-55kgs) and Jose Masangkay Dayao III (-67kgs).Also, PH young Weightlifters will be led by Head of Delegation Monico Puentevella and coaches Patrick Lee, Edmundo S. Cardano, Allen Diaz, Kelly Kae Rojas and Joe Patrick Diaz.The delegation builds on the momentum of the Philippine senior weightlifting team, which recently achieved significant success at the IWF World Championships. Cebuano Fernando Agad clinched a bronze medal in the men’s 55-kilogram Group A division, while Rosegie Ramos earned a bronze in the women’s 49-kilogram category.

Filipina MMA champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga has withdrawn from her scheduled ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship defense at ONE 173 on November 16 due to “medical reasons.”Zamboanga was set to defend her title against Japan’s Ayaka Miura at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. "With a heavy heart, I need to share some difficult news… I was truly excited to defend my belt at ONE 173 against Ayaka. I know how strong and talented she is, and I was looking forward to testing myself against such a worthy challenger. This was a fight I have been preparing for and one I deeply wanted to give to the fans," she said.Her withdrawal leaves former strawweight champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio as the sole Filipino representative on the card.Zamboanga apologized to Ayaka and her sponsors in the same post, but vowed to return stronger, underscoring her love for the sport."This sport means everything to me, and I promise I am fully committed to coming back stronger. My passion for fighting has not changed, and I will continue to work hard so that I can once again represent ONE at the highest level when I return."Pacio, 28, will move up in weight for a high-stakes challenge against local favorite Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship.Zamboanga’s absence marks a temporary setback after her recent title win and shifts the spotlight to Pacio’s quest to reclaim world title glory in Tokyo.

Carl Jammes "Wonder Boy" Martin posted a fifth-round knockout against his Mexican opponent Juan Tostado in their super-bantamweight contest on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in Tijuana, Mexico.The referee called a mercy halt to the bout after Martin dropped Tostado with a barrage of head shots.The native from Ifugao made sure his lofty world rating was going to stay, and the impressive victory could elevate him to top contender from No. 2 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and in the top five from No. 7 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF).Tostado managed to get up, but the third man on the ring was wise enough to stop the carnage, allowing the Filipino southpaw to raise his record to 24-0 with 19 knockouts.The victory of “Wonder “Boy” over Tostado was Martin’s second fight outside the Philippines after relocating from his homebase in Lagawe, Ifugao.Meanwhile, Tostado already has a boxing record of 27-15-1 win-loss-draw with 10 of his wins being knockouts.Last September, Martin also knocked out Mexican boxer Anthony Jimenez Salas in Sinaloa.

American transgender women will no longer be able to compete in women’s events at the Olympics and Paralympics, following a policy update by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).Effective last July 21, 2025, the USOPC updated its Athlete Safety Policy to align with United States President Donald Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order. The new guidelines, detailed on the USOPC website under “Additional Requirements,” state the committee’s commitment to ensuring fair and safe competition for women athletes.“The USOPC will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 (Trump’s order) and the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act,” the statement reads. The Stevens Act, enacted in 1988, governs eligibility disputes for Olympic and amateur sports.A memo sent Tuesday to Team USA athletes from USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland and president Gene Sykes referenced the executive order, noting the committee’s obligation to comply with federal laws. Trump’s order threatens to withhold federal funding from schools or institutions that allow transgender girls to participate on girls’ teams, citing potential Title IX violations.The order also mandates immediate enforcement of single-sex sports and locker rooms for women, reinforcing the new USOPC policy.

The Galeries Tower Highrisers finally enter the win column in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference by beating the Capital1 Solar Spikers in a 26-24, 25-14, 25-23 sweep on Saturday, December 7, at the Minglanilla Sports Complex in Cebu.Julia Coronel, the No. 3 overall pick in the inaugural draft, had her best game so far in the pro league as she produced nine points, highlighted by five service aces, including four straight at the start of Set 2. She also had 10 excellent sets.Jewel Encarnacion, another Galeries rookie, put up a solid outing with 10 attack points to go with back-to-back 10-point showings from mainstay spikers Ysa Jimenez and Andrea Marzan.Meanwhile, Leila Cruz, Coronel's former La Salle teammate, put up 14 markers and five digs that went for naught as Capital1 absorbed its fourth loss in five games.The former DLSU captain finally won a game after failing to do so in their first four games. The win also broke the 10-game slump of the Solar Spikers since April.In their Saturday match, Coronel brought out her effort in the young career that she has.

Boxing legend Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is set to make another run at history as he faces Seiya Tsutsumi for the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight championship on December 17 in Tokyo — a bout that could make him the oldest bantamweight world champion in history.The Donaire-Tsutsumi clash will headline a tripleheader event promoted by Teiken Promotions, according to multiple reports.Tsutsumi (12-0-3, 8 KOs), the reigning “champion in recess,” previously captured the WBA title after defeating Takuma Inoue but was sidelined due to injury following a draw with Daigo Higa. Meanwhile, Antonio Vargas — who was elevated to full champion — withdrew from a planned consolidation bout due to personal reasons, opening the door for Donaire’s shot at glory.Donaire (43-8, 28 KOs), now 43 years old, earned his interim champion status after a ninth-round technical decision victory earlier this year, marking a triumphant return following a two-year layoff.A victory in Tokyo would not only unify the title but also cement Donaire’s place in the record books — and in the hearts of Filipino boxing fans worldwide.“Age is just a number when you have the heart for greatness,” said Donaire, who remains one of the most respected names in the sport.

Petro Gazz soared past Choco Mucho, 25-20, 26-28, 25-21, 25-16, capping the first day of the Premier Volleyball League’s All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, November 9, at Philsports Arena in Pasig.Brooke Van Sickle powered the Angels, erupting 34 points anchored on 28 attacks, four aces, and two kill blocks, while also putting up 14 excellent digs. 

Roger Ray Pogoy poured in 28 points to lead the TNT Tropang 5G past the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 98-91, in Game 1 of their Semi-Finals series on Wednesday, June 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena.Aside from his 28 markers, the sharpshooting guard also grabbed two rebounds and dished out four assists while playing a game-high 36 minutes to anchor TNT’s victory.

Ateneo de Manila University claimed its first victory in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament by sweeping the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-18, 25-22, 25-18, in their Battle of Katipunan matchup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.The Blue Eagles took a commanding 18-9 lead in the third set before UP managed to score three consecutive points to stop the run. However, Sobe Buena sparked a late rally, helping Ateneo push the score to 23-17. An AC Miner block then set up the match point, and although Niña Ytang managed to save one match point, Buena sealed the victory for Ateneo.Buena, who had been limited in Ateneo’s first two losses due to injury recovery, made a strong return just when her team needed her most, leading with 17 points from 15-of-27 attacking efficiency. Team captain Lyann de Guzman also played a key role, scoring 14 markers with 12 attacks and two aces, while experienced blocker AC Miner added 12 points, including seven attacks, four blocks, and one ace.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, has renewed his call for government agencies to prioritize health, disaster resilience, and sports infrastructure over projects he described as having little value to Filipinos.At a Senate Committee on Sports hearing on September 15, Go lamented that billions have been spent on flood control while sports and health facilities remain neglected.“Sana ‘yung paggamit ng pondo sa infrastructure — instead na gamitin sa mga flood control na wala namang taong nakikinabang, nilalagay sa mga lugar na walang katao-tao — sa sports facilities na makakatulong… gawing dormitoryo, repair po ng ating pasilidad dahil ‘yung iba d’yan napakatagal,” Go said.He noted that the recent flood control budget could have built 60,000 evacuation centers or 80,000 health centers nationwide, providing tangible benefits for communities.“Kaysa sa proyektong walang pakinabang o ginagawang gatasan ng iilan, sa sports na lang. At least dito, makikinabang talaga ang ating kababayan at lalo na ang ating mga atleta,” he added.Go also stressed the urgency of implementing the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which mandates evacuation centers nationwide, and called on the DPWH to focus on sports facility development and rehabilitation.His comments came after PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio reported on the condition of key sports venues, including the flood-prone Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Gregorio said the PSC is collaborating with the DPWH, MMDA, and other agencies to build catchment systems and upgrade facilities for long-term improvement.Gregorio assured lawmakers that visible upgrades will soon begin, not only at Rizal Memorial but also at New Clark City’s National Academy of Sports and training centers in Baguio. The PSC is committed to responsible resource management to sustain Philippine sports growth.

The Petro Gazz Angels are now embracing a new era as interim coach Brian Esquibel steps in following the departure of Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara.Despite the recent coaching change, the defending champions have remained focused and resilient, clinching the No. 4 seed in Pool A. They will now face the fifth-seeded Akari squad from Pool B in the upcoming knockout round.Coach Esquibel commended his players for their unwavering determination and teamwork amid adversity."Para sa mga bata talaga 'to eh. Nakita niyo naman kung papano sila nagtulong-tulong. ‘Yung effort nila kahit mahabang rally, kami ‘yung nakakuha ng puntos dahil hindi sila bumibigay. Nandu'n pa rin ‘yung pusong kampeon ng mga bata," Esquibel said.As they continue their title defense, the Angels are determined to uphold the grit and unity that have defined their campaign. With Esquibel’s steady leadership and the team’s championship spirit, Petro Gazz is poised to overcome challenges and pursue another title run.

The Philippine Men’s Curling Team won its first ever gold medal today, February 14, in the ongoing 2025 Harbin Winter Olympics in China.This marks the country’s historical achievement in the Winter Olympics this year, and the first ever medal for the Philippines in the Asian Winter Games. The team composed of Alan Frei, Enrico Pfister, Christian Haller, Marc Pfister, and Benjo Delarmente led the Philippines to a 5-3 win over South Korea.The Men’s Curling Team made the once impossible possible as they ensured the country would go home with a historic medal in the quadrennial event.Earlier, Filipino curlers Christian Haller and Alan Frei defeated their Taiwanese opponents 11-3 to set up a knockout qualification match against the Japanese squad of Ryo Aoki, Haruki Watanabe, Ayumu Hemmi, and Rin Kyotoh.The Men’s Curling team also defeated Japan 10-4, and the Philippines recently defeated host country China 7-6, qualifying the country for the finals to face South Korea.The country's Men's Curling team cannot help but be overjoyed because, for them, winning the first gold medal at the Winter Olympics in this type of sporting event is a historic achievement.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters finally snatched a win in Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semi-finals series against the TNT Tropang 5G, 107-86, on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Anton Asistio scored a personal playoff-high 24 points to lead Rain or Shine in their first win of the best-of-seven affair. He also added six assists and a rebound to his stat line, shooting 7-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the four-point arc, in just 28 minutes and 11 seconds off the bench.Caelan Tiongson followed with 16 markers, four boards, one assist, and a rejection, while Keith Datu tallied a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with two assists and one block.Two more Elasto Painters scored in double figures—Leonard Santillan finished with 12 markers on top of eight boards, one assist, and one deflection, while Andrei Caracut added 10 points, four assists, and four steals.

Creamline maintained their perfect record, securing its fifth win at the expense of Capital1, 25-19, 25-19, 25-18, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday, January 21, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.The Cool Smashers sustained their title as the lone undefeated team in the conference, improving their record to 5-0 in the standings.The team was dominant from beginning to end, with Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and Alyssa Valdez leading the defending Grand Slam champions in the third set with a 7-1 run, giving them a 16-10 advantage. Creamline kept up their momentum as Lorie Bernardo and Galanza completed the match, before Patty Orendain's error sealed the victory.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters kicked off their 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League campaign after overcoming a shaky start against the Australia’s Queensland Pirates, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12, on Sunday, April 20, at the PhilSports Arena.Savi Davison powered the High Speed Hitters with 14 attack points while also registering eight excellent digs and three excellent receptions, earning the Player of the Match honors.The Pirates dictated the early tempo, going on a 6-1 run in the opening frame. But the tide turned when Wilma Salas’s service ace shifted the momentum and handed PLDT their first lead of the match. Despite the Pirates’ efforts to regain control, the High Speed Hitters responded with urgency. Fiola Ceballos stepped up in the clutch, giving PLDT a 20-16 cushion. Although an out-of-bounds attack momentarily disrupted PLDT’s flow, Kim Kianna Dy’s relentless offense pushed the lead to 23-17. Dy eventually sealed the set with a powerful attack, completing the comeback.

The Philippine Dragon Boat Team bagged the overall championship in the recently concluded 2024 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan from October 27 to Sunday, November 3.In front of a lively hometown crowd, the Filipino paddlers added two gold, five silver and two bronze medals for an impressive 11-20-16 overall tally.The Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand took runner-up honors with eight golds, while the I.N.A (Individual Neutral Athlete) squad was third with a haul of six golds, three silvers and three bronzes in the meet supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Tingog party-list.The hosts won a hotly-contested masters mixed 20-seater standard boat 500-meter race in two minutes and 6.34 seconds, nosing out Singapore (2:06.73) while Germany was not too far behind in third (2:07.98) in the competition organized by the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation.The Filipinos were also runaway winners in the 40+ 20-seater women’s 2,000-meter standard boat event (10:42.31) over runner-up Canada (10:48.64) and took silvers in the 20-seater mixed standard boat 500-meter  (1:58.13), 40+ 10-seater mixed 500-meter (2:19.45), 20-seater open (9:23.16) and 40+ 20-seater open 5,000-meter (9:34.47) races. But the 20-seater mixed standard 500-meters was the most thrilling as the hosts virtually led from start to finish until they were beaten in the last 10 meters by the late-charging Ukrainians, who snatched the gold in 1:57.51.   They also bagged the last bronze of the day in the 40+ 10-seater open 500-meter (2:15.93) event in the four-day tournament also supported by the Puerto Princesa City governmentAccording to Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation or PCKDF president Leonora "Lenlen" Escollante, they are happy with the country's achievement and they were not disappointed in their hope that it will lead the international competition.Escollante also appreciates the warm support of the local government of Puerto Princesa in holding this type of international sporting events, as well as the hospitality of Filipinos to foreign visitors participating in the competition.

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala continued her dream run at the Miami Open, pulling off a stunning 6-2, 7-5 victory over World No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek on Wednesday, March 26 (Thursday, March 27, Manila time).The 19-year-old wildcard entry displayed poise and resilience, adding Swiatek to her growing list of high-profile upsets, which already includes 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko and reigning Australian champion Madison Keys.

Converge FiberXers opened the Philippine Basketball Association Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup curtain with a victory against the Terrafirma Dyip, 116-87, on Wednesday, November 27, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.The much awaited debut of former top overall pick of the special Gilas draft Jordan Heading has come to fruition already.Heading scored his first basket in the PBA off a tip-in in the 2:52 mark of the first period. He finished with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field, four rebounds, and six assists against three turnovers in almost 24 minutes of play.The stats might not be as high as expected of the Filipino-Australian sweet shooting guard but enough to get the nod of Converge head coach Franco Atienza.

Melvin Jerusalem successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight belt after a convincing unanimous decision win over Yudai Shigeoka in their rematch on March 30, 2025, at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan. And like their first match, the Filipino boxer was able to take his opponent apart piece by piece right from the get-go with smooth precision.The Pinoy boxer kept on coming with volume punches, connecting on combinations that left his opponent with a bloody nose. He then kept the pressure on until the last round of their fight, not slowing down as Shigeoka continuously struggled to connect with his punches.Unlike the first match, there were no knockdowns this time around, but the dominance was still shown by the Filipino 31-year-old fighter and champion.Judge Joseph Gwilt scored it 118-110, judge Thawut Pheumsamran had it closer at 116-112 and judge Chris Tellez saw it at 119-109. This is the second time that Jerusalem successfully defended his belt and further improved his record to 24-3 with 12 knockouts, while Shigeoka dropped to 9-2 with five knockouts. Last year, Jerusalem also won the title against Shigeoka also in Japan via split decision.Now that Jerusalem won the fight against his Japanese foe, he dreams of a rematch with unified 105-pound titlist Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico.It has been almost two years since the 31-year-old Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon native was stripped of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title in a crushing seventh-round technical knockout loss to Collazo last May 27, 2023.