Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio underscored the importance of sports development in the country, stressing that sports should be viewed as a long-term investment—not a waste of funds.In a media interview by Scoreline.ph, Gregorio highlighted the PSC’s ongoing push to improve sports facilities nationwide, starting with the renovation of the Rizal Memorial Tennis Courts, which is expected to begin in the coming days.“Sports is an investment,” said Gregorio. “It’s never a waste of money. When a child succeeds because of sports, when a community unites because of sports, that is something invaluable.”Preparations for WTA Event in ManilaThe PSC is gearing up to host a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament in January 2026, marking a major milestone for Philippine tennis. Gregorio said bleacher expansion is underway to increase spectator capacity.“We hope to accommodate at least 2,000 people in January,” he shared. “If we want to bid for bigger WTA events in the future, we may need to move to a larger venue like New Clark City. The BCDA has given us ample land there for future sports development.”Alex Eala Expected to JoinFilipina tennis star Alex Eala is set to headline the event, barring any scheduling conflict with the Australian Open.“The only chance she won’t be able to play is if there’s a conflict with the Australian Open semifinals or finals,” Gregorio said. “But if she succeeds in Australia, we’ll all be very happy. And if she becomes available after the early rounds, then she will join us.”Gregorio emphasized that hosting a WTA event is not only a showcase of world-class tennis but also an opportunity to highlight Filipino talent.“One day, we hope to see more Alex Ealas. I’m sure she also wants to be the reason tennis will grow bigger in the Philippines. And that is very exciting.”WTA in PH for the Next Three YearsThe PSC aims to host a WTA tournament annually for the next three years, making international tennis a recurring highlight in the Philippine sports calendar.“We’re committed,” Gregorio said. “This is just the beginning.”

The Philippine handball squads are all gearing up to reach new heights as they compete in the beach and indoor events of the upcoming regional and continental tournaments this year.After their fruitful campaign in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Beach Handball Championships in Suphanburi, Thailand, where they copped the gold and bronze medals last week after beating Vietnam in the men’s final, 2-1, highlighted by a thrilling 9-8 win via a shootout, while the women’s side, bagged the bronze medal.Philippine men’s national beach handball team member Rafael Agtarap is more confident at the country’s delegates to the sport in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games later this year.“Magandang experience sa amin ito, magandang fuel para ma-boost yung preparations namin sa SEA Games,” Agtarap said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.Before that, the Philippine handball squad are also eyed for another task as they vie in the 10th Asian Men’s and Women’s Beach Championship which will be held in Muscat, Oman, slated from May 1 to 10.The tournament, according to national team head coach Gab De Guzman, plays a key role in the preparation of the Filipino handballers as they aim to make an impact in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.“Siguro we need to practice more and have a training camp, kasi if you really want a shot at a gold medal in the SEA Games, these coming few months talaga is critical. And like what we did on the beach, we believe we can perform at a high level in this coming Southeast Asian Games,” said the handball team coach.Tough tests await the men’s team as Qatar, Iran, Pakistan, and host Oman are taking part in the week-long tilt. The women's crew, meanwhile, braces for powerhouse Vietnam, India, and Hong Kong.The country hasn’t won a gold medal yet in handball in the SEA Games, with the men’s beach team copping the silver in the 2021 edition in Hanoi, Vietnam.The Asian meet also serves as a qualifier for the World Handball Championships slated in Germany in January 2027.

The TNT Tropang Giga escaped the fiery Meralco Bolts for a third win in a nail-biting 101-99 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday, January 7.Despite their valiant attempt to rally from a deficit of up to 23 points, the Bolts were unable to answer on the final possession, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made the game-winning free throws with 10 seconds remaining on the clock.RHJ’s timely heroics allowed TNT to maintain its third consecutive victory. He finished with an all-around performance of 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Calvin Oftana spearheaded the locals with 24 markers, as well as four boards.

The NLEX Road Warriors capped their preseason with a championship run, capturing the 40th Kadayawan Invitational crown after defeating the Blackwater Bossing, 101-84, on Sunday night, August 26, at the University of Southern Philippines in Davao City.After trailing by as much as 11 early in the game, NLEX turned things around with a blistering 34-12 surge in the second quarter, sparked by Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres, to grab a 52-36 lead at halftime.

Filipino gymnastics star Carlos Yulo has opted to skip the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December to focus on the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, where he is competing only in floor exercise and vault due to a left wrist injury.“I still want the taste of competition,” Yulo said “That is the most important for me right now.”Yulo, a double gold medalist in vault and floor at the Paris 2024 Olympics, officially announced his SEA Games withdrawal through Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion-Norton. According to Carrion-Norton, Yulo’s decision was motivated by two factors: SEA Games rules now restrict elite gymnasts to only one event, and Yulo’s desire to give other Filipino gymnasts a chance to shine.“It’s a selfless decision because he likes to give others a chance. He’s now focused on winning in the world championships,” Carrion-Norton said. She added that the SEA Games organizers also scrapped the all-around competition, limiting medal opportunities for top gymnasts.Yulo revealed his wrist injury occurred two months ago while working on a difficult new dismount on the parallel bars. “I kind of did it too much,” he admitted.Despite his limited participation in Jakarta, Yulo remains committed to showcasing beautiful, graceful gymnastics. “My goal is to perform beautiful gymnastics, to be really graceful,” he shared.Yulo is joined at the world championships by fellow Filipino gymnasts Miguel Besana and Ivan Cruz, the latter fresh off a gold medal at the Cambodia SEA Games.

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. 

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.

Defensive specialist Justine Jazareno emerged as the Philippines’ lone awardee in the second leg of the SEA V.League, earning Best Libero honor Sunday night, August 10, — her first international award.Jazareno anchored Alas Pilipinas’ streak of having at least one individual honoree alive for five straight legs of the tournament. She joined Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen (MVP and Best Opposite Spiker), Vi Thi Nhu Quynh (Best Outside Spiker), Tran Thi Bich Thuy (Best Middle Blocker), and Thailand’s Pornpun Guedpard (Best Setter), Chatchu-on Moksri (Best Outside Spiker), and Thanapan Wimonrat (Best Middle Blocker) in the list of top performers.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is hoping to have naturalized player Justin Brownlee back in action in time for the start of the team’s training camp next week as preparations ramp up for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.The national team will begin camp on November 17 at the Inspire Sports Academy, aiming to build chemistry and conditioning ahead of the first window of the qualifiers, which begins on November 28.Cone expressed optimism that the team will be complete by then, including Brownlee, who has been “missing in action” recently amid reports of pneumonia, causing him to miss Meralco’s recent East Asia Super League games.Neither Brownlee nor the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has issued an official statement regarding his condition.Despite this, Cone remains focused on ensuring Gilas is fully prepared before facing Guam on November 28 at the Calvo Field House in Guam, followed by a rematch on December 1 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo.Meanwhile, Kai Sotto will remain sidelined as he continues rehabilitation from an ACL injury earlier this year. His spot in the lineup will be filled by Quentin Milora-Brown, who has been cleared by FIBA to play as a local.“We just want to get going and make sure everyone’s ready,” Cone said, emphasizing the importance of starting camp strong to maintain Gilas’ momentum heading into the qualifiers.

De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas kept their winning streaks intact in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, dispatching their opponents in contrasting styles Tuesday, August 12, at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center.The Green Spikers fended off a late scare to sweep National University, 21-17, 21-15, 33-31, for their second straight win. La Salle nearly let a 22-18 lead slip in the third set, but Cameroonian middle blocker Issa Ousseini delivered a crucial service ace to reach match point. Ousseini posted nine points from four attacks, four blocks, and an ace, including two excellent  digs. Eugene Gloria and MJ Fortuna also tallied nine markers apiece, while timely contributions from bench players Rui Ventura and Yoyong Mendoza helped seal the win.Coach Jose Roque said he challenged his team to show growth from their opening match. “I only told the team one thing before the game — to see if we can perform better than in our first match, so we have a gauge if we’re improving or not. No pressure because this is just pre-competition. Winning is just a reward; what matters is moving well and showing something on the court,” Roque explained.Mac Bandiola led NU with 14 points, all from attacks, while Jan Abanilla chipped in seven.

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala achieved the biggest milestone of her career, shocking World No. 5 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory in the Round 32 of the WTA 1000 Miami Open on Monday, March 24 (Manila time).With this historic win, the 19-year-old became the first Filipina in the Open Era to defeat a top-10 player, earning a spot in the Final 16 of a WTA event for the first time."I'm so blank," an emotional Eala said after the match, as Filipino fans in the crowd cheered and waved flags. "I'm thinking of my parents. ‘Mom and Dad, I got it!’ My God."  Keys, a seasoned Grand Slam contender, started strong and controlled the early exchanges, winning four of the first seven games. However, Eala turned the tide with a crucial break in the ninth game to claim the first set, 6-4.Riding the momentum, the young Filipina dominated the second set, breaking Keys twice—first at 3-2, then again at 5-2—before sealing the match in just 1 hour and 27 minutes.

The TNT Tropang Giga once again relied on their scoring prowess to secure a narrow 87-85 victory against Barangay Ginebra in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals to get the 2-1 series lead on Wednesday, March 19, at the Philsports Arena.Rey Nambatac played his best game as a pro as he finished with 24 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the three-point area. He also had seven assists and five rebounds.The Letran product also led TNT in their comeback from a nine-point deficit in the first half of play. Then, “Sting-Rey” sank a crucial three-pointer in the closing moments of the game to break the 82-deadlock.Tropang Giga’s import, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson flirted with a triple double, tallying 20 markers, 11 boards and eight dimes, including his last dish to the wide open Glenn Khobuntin, who made his fastbreak layup to get his 10th point and put the game almost out of reach.Calvin Oftana also ended up in double figures, scoring 16 markers, on top of his five rebounds and four assists.

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.

Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, the two bronze medalists in the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the recipients of special recognition at the 2024 San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night, to be held on January 27 in the grand ballroom at the Manila Hotel.Petecio and Villegas, who accounted for a pair of bronze medals during the Summer Games, will be recognized with the President’s Award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.Petecio emerged bronze winner in the women’s 57kg division, while Villegas secured the same medal in the 50 kg division.The bronze was the second Olympic medal won by the 32-year-old Petecio, adding to the silver that she bagged in the 2020 edition of the Games in Tokyo. In doing so, she also became the first ever Filipino boxer to clinch back-to-back podium finishes in the quadrennial meet.For the 29-year-old Villegas, it was a proud moment right in her Olympic debut as an underdog out of the compact five-man Philippine boxing team that competed.Aside from the two fearless lady boxers, gymnast Carlos Yulo is going to be feted with the highest honor as 2024 Athlete of the Year, wherein he added to the two glittering gold medals that he won in securing the best ever showing for Team Philippines in a century of participation in the quadrennial Games.According to PSA president Nelson Beltran, these Filipino athletes deserve high accolades for their own bright moments in the Paris Games, providing an extra push to the glorious Philippine performance. 

Nxled scored its first-ever breakthrough win in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) against the gutsy Galeries Tower, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23, on Saturday, February 8, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.The Chameleons snapped a 15-game losing streak since the Reinforced Conference in addition to entering the win column for the first time under Italian coach Ettore Guidetti.EJ Laure was instrumental in ceasing the Chameleon’s drought, posting a game-high 19 points built on 14 attacks and five blocks, while also supplementing nine excellent digs and eight excellent receptions to earn Player of the Game honors. Although the win was a big step forward, coach Guidetti stressed that the club is still committed to making constant progress.

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.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, reaffirmed his full support for the budgets of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Games and Amusements Board (GAB), and the Philippine Racing Commission (PhilRACOM) — emphasizing that sustained investment in sports is key to building a generation of disciplined, healthy, and world-class Filipino athletes.Speaking during a budget hearing, Go highlighted how government backing has already translated into historic success for the Philippines on the global stage.“Since 2019, when I chaired the Committee on Sports, we won our first-ever Olympic gold in Tokyo through Hidilyn Diaz,” Go said. “And just last year, Carlos Yulo captured two more gold medals in Paris. These victories prove that strong government support leads to results.”Go noted that despite these triumphs, sports funding remains minimal — only 0.004% of the national budget in 2024. He stressed the need for consistent increases to sustain the country’s progress in international competitions.“We expect our athletes to perform like world champions, but our support must match that expectation,” Go added. “That’s why we fought to raise PSC’s 2025 budget to ₱1.3 billion.”Investing in Facilities and Regional TrainingThe senator also underscored the importance of upgrading sports infrastructure, including athlete dormitories and training centers at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Philsports (ULTRA).He proposed the regionalization of sports training centers so that athletes from provinces no longer have to travel to Manila for proper training.“Let’s bring sports closer to the people,” Go said. “The Philippines is big. We need regional centers to discover and develop talent nationwide.”He also cited the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in New Clark City — co-authored by Sen. Win Gatchalian — as a model that allows student-athletes to train and study simultaneously.Boosting Sports Tourism and Hosting Global EventsGo praised the country’s recent hosting of major international tournaments — including the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, and the upcoming WTA Women’s Tennis Open — noting their positive economic impact and contribution to national pride.“Hosting world-class events helps promote tourism and shows our capability to the world,” Go said. “We’ve proven that Filipinos can organize events with excellence and passion.”Supporting Athletes and Fighting Game-FixingBeyond funding, Go emphasized the importance of moral and institutional support for athletes, ensuring they can focus solely on competition. He also called on the Games and Amusements Board to intensify its crackdown on illegal gambling and game-fixing, warning that such practices destroy the integrity of sports.

Gilas Pilipinas officially earned a spot in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals after escaping host country Saudi Arabia in overtime, 95-88, at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12, Manila Time).Justin Brownlee produced another miracle as he drained the contested triple to force OT and finished with 29 points, five assists, and four rebounds for Gilas, setting up a date with two-time defending champion Australia on Wednesday, August 13. With 3.7 seconds remaining, Brownlee tied the score to 79-all before Kevin Quiambao sank a pair of triples in the extra frame to complete a 17-point performance, including three dimes, and three deflections. 

The stage is set for the return of import action in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) as the 2025 Reinforced Conference fires off on October 7, featuring 12 professional teams eager to battle for supremacy.At Thursday’s press launch in Pasig, PVL president Ricky Palou said fans can expect a heightened level of competition with foreign reinforcements joining the fray. “It’s going to be more competitive than usual because it’s Reinforced. We still have to see the caliber and skills of the imports, but whoever wins the championship, it’s anybody’s game.” Palou said. The tournament will conclude by the end of November to give way to the Philippines’ participation in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.Imports Ready to ShineAll squads have retooled their lineups with international talents aiming to spark deep runs this conference:Creamline: American spiker Courtney Schwan seeks redemption after back-to-back bronze finishes.PLDT High Speed Hitters: Russian ace Anastasiia Bavykina leads their title defense.Galeries: Montenegrin standout Jelena Cvijovic returns.Nxled: Spanish hitter Paola Martinez Vela joins the lineup.Akari Chargers: American Annie Mitchem bolsters their attack.Capital1: Ukrainian Oleksandra Bytsenko leads the charge.Chery Tiggo: Cuban veteran Yunieska Robles Batista powers their campaign.Choco Mucho: American Anyse Marlee Smith joins the roster.Cignal: Greek attacker Eva Chantava boosts their offense.Farm Fresh: Belgian power hitter Helene Rousseaux strengthens the team.Zus Coffee: American Anna DeBeer joins the squad.Streamlined Tournament FormatTeams are divided into two pools and play a single round-robin within groups.Top three teams per pool advance to the second round, facing only the bottom three squads of the opposite pool.Rankings follow the FIVB system: total wins, match points, set ratio, and point ratio.After the second round, all teams are re-ranked (1–12). The bottom four are eliminated, while the top eight move to the knockout quarterfinals.Quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal matches will all be one-game, do-or-die battles.With powerhouse imports, revamped rosters, and a format designed for unpredictability, the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference is shaping up to be one of the league’s most competitive showdowns yet.

Shorthanded Akari regained its winning ways to breeze past sister team Nxled, 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-18, in the ongoing 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, January 23, at the Philsports Arena.Ivy Lacsina powered the Chargers by posting 17 points built on 14 attacks, two aces, and a block, while Faith Nisperos and Eli Soyud both contributed 15 apiece in the winning cause.The win propelled Akari to a 4-4 win-loss record despite team captain Michelle Cobb exiting the court after suffering a neck injury during the second set.