Filipino-American gymnast Aleah Finnegan will proudly carry the Philippine colors when she makes her Olympic debut in the Paris Games.Finnegan is one of the four gymnasts who will represent the country in the Summer Games. She will join fellow Fil-Ams Emma Malabuyo and Levi Jung-Ruivivar in the women’s artistic gymnastics events while Carlos Yulo will represent the flag in the men’s division. They hope to bring the Philippines’ first Olympic medal for the sport.The LSU (Louisiana State University) legend came from a family of gymnasts. Her sister Sarah was an alternate for the US Team back in the 2012 Olympics while her other sister Hannah represented the Philippines in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.Aleah also represented the US Team in the 2019 Pan American Games where she won a gold medal.Who is Alean Finnegan?Finnegan might have a lot of success in the gymnastics world but there were obstacles that she also faced along the way.She underwent surgery for a navicular bone injury in 2020 after the Tokyo Olympics original schedule was postponed. She eventually tried to compete for a slot in the Olympics trials but was not selected. The Fil-Am gymnast also retired from elite gymnastics in 2021, and decided to continue her career in LSU.Then, opportunities knock upon her door and it opens a lot of success for her.When she switched federations in 2022 and decided to represent the Philippines, she immediately earned success and made an impact by winning a gold medal in the team event and vault of the Southeast Asian Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam.Then in 2023, Finnegan competed in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships where she finished 32nd in the the women’s all-around event which allowed her to be eligible for a slot to the Olympics making her the first Filipina gymnast to qualify in the Paris Games.

The Philippines prepared 5 boxing athletes who are well-trained and equipped for what could become a historic run in the 2024 Paris Olympics.Among them are veterans and newbies with one core mission: bring home coveted Olympic medals.The Philippines are no stranger to Boxing in the Olympic Games. In 1996, They are of follows: Eumir Felix MarcialHe represents the Philippines and won a silver medal during the 2019 World Championships.Marcial managed to join and be qualified for the middleweight event for 2020 Tokyo Olympics which in the later postponed to 2021 due to the outbreak of Covid 19 Pandemic.After advancing to the semifinals against boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine, Marcial brought the first bronze medal since 1992He was also the first Filipino boxer to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.Marcial thanked his fans for believing in his abilities and hoping to continue in support in his endeavor towards the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. He has a total of boxing fights, in which 5 of these are Wins. 3 of those wins were by knockout, while Marcial continues to have a spotless record with no losses. Aira Villegas,Aira’s boxing career started in Tacloban City, where she learned to be tough and studied and learned boxing as her self defense.At the age of 15 years old she kept on focusing on practice and after joining  the Boxam Elite tournament in Spain, She won her first Gold Medal.  She is being chosen for the Olympic ticket in 1st World Qualification Tournament.However, it was her brother who encouraged her to pursue a boxing career in order for her to join in the Olympic Games.And through this sport, they were able to manage and help their family to provide for their daily needs.Her years of training paid off as during her stint during the In 2019 Southeast Asian Games, she won a bronze medal.She also competed at the 2022 Asian Games which was held in Hangzhou, China, where she lost the fight with her Mongolian opponent last year. From the gyms in Tacloban, Aira will now take her talents to the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing the country in the women’s flyweight 50-kg competition. Nesthy Petecio, Just like Aira, Nesthy was taught boxing as a means of self-defense.At the young age of 11, Petecio had a big break in her boxing career by. Joining boxing match during the celebration of Araw ng Dabaw in 2002, a match that she eventually won.In 2007, she competed in the Smart National Youth and Women’s Open Boxing Championship held in Cagayan De Oro City where she won a gold medal and earned the opportunity to be a part of the country’s national boxing team.Petecio started to compete and represented the country in several international competitions, some of which was the 2014 AIBA Women’s World Championship where she obtained a silver medal.2011 & 2013 Southeast Asian Games where she won both silver medals, the 2012 Asian Championship where she won a bronze medal, and a gold medal win in the 2015 Indonesia President’s Cup.In 2020, Nesthy qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics due to her high competitive rankings. Her first fight was a victory against Marcelat Sakobi Matshu of the Democratic Republic of Congo but, after facing her amateur rival Sena Irie in the final, Petecio lost by unanimous decision and won the silver medal, the first Olympic boxing medal won by a Filipino boxer in 25 years.Petecio is aiming for a her-story-making moment by trying to snag one more medal for a back-to-back medal performance in the Olympics. The hope that many for Nesthy have, is that this time, her silver turns to gold. Carlo PaalamCarlo joined the National Team in2013 and started competing internationally in 2016 where he earned both bronze medals during the AIBA youth Asian Championship and Asian Games in 2018.Later, he made a debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after being qualified through the IOC-BTF. Paalam won a silver medal during his bout in the Men’s Flyweight division against Galal Yafai of Great Britain.This time, Carlo’s hopes for an Olympic gold may not just be saying goodbye.This, after Paalam qualified for the Summer Games after winning over Indian Sachin Siwach in the men’s 57kg division semifinals during the 2024 Boxing 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand which was held on June 1. Hergie BacyadanBefore coming into the world of boxing, Hergie was a former martial artist and a wushu and vovinam practitioner.Bacyadan joined the Philippine national wushu team in 2016. In 2017, she took part in the Inaugural Sanda Asian Cup and World Wushu Championship which was held in Foshan China and Russia where she earned both silver medals in a 65k-kilogram division.During her Boxing career, it was marked when she participated in the 2019 ASBC Asian Grand Slam Boxing Championships held in Xiamen China.Bacyadan qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris after winning her quota bout during the 2024 World Olympic Qualification Tournament against Maryelis Yriza of Venezuela - a win, which can see Hergie transcend the boundaries of what an athlete can do and achieve.  The Philippines has seen its own level of success in boxing - one that it has achieved throughout the years. Only time can tell if the country’s Olympic successes in the sport can once again awaken the country’s successes in the sport.

As the PBA nears its 50th Season, the league targets to become the best sports entertainment not only in the country but also in Asia.Asia's first play-for-pay league is the most followed sport in the land, and the PBA wants to keep that status, and now looks forward to improving the brand by making the games more exciting and giving in-venue fans an experience that they will never forget.The PBA wants the crowd to be back in the playing venue even though the league is still the most dominant when it comes to TV ratings.In the recently-concluded annual planning session of the PBA board of governors, they established pillars on how to attain their goal of showcasing the league to global fans and make it as the No. 1 basketball entertainment league in Asia.However, chairman Ricky Vargas said that “the challenge is how to execute it.”The ideas include improving the quality and competitiveness of play, re-establishing the league as the source of best talent for the national team and net exporter of players in Asia. They also want to focus on fan engagement by investing in supplementary business like the construction of an own arena and expanding in CSR (corporate social responsibility) programs.In addition to making the game more exciting, PBA will introduce a new set of rules in the coming season highlighted by the implementation of the “four-point shot” from beyond a 27-foot arc.Newly-elected vice chairman Alfranchis Chua said in Filipino, “We have done this in the All-Star Game. With this rule, the zone defense will be lessened, man-to-man will be seen more and the game will be faster.”The PBA will continue to support the national team program and will embrace the thought that a strong Gilas team will be beneficial to the league and vice versa.They will also have programs for the fans where they can mingle, interact and engage with their favorite players. Chua said, “Like those in the upper box, they paid a pricey ticket when they entered the venue and all they got to do was wave to the player. I will tell the coaches that they allow players to go near the fans.” 

Earmarked as the heir apparent to the sole Philippine Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, Vanessa Sarno has definitely big shoes to fill in her first Olympic Games.The 20-year-old weightlifting prodigy guaranteed her spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics after flashing a remarkable performance in the women’s 71-kilogram category at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup held in Phuket, Thailand, last April.Sarno solidified her Olympic aspirations by shattering her previous record in the snatch with 110 kg and cleared 135 kg in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 245 kg to finish fifth in the tournament that served as the last qualifying event for Olympic weightlifting.The Bohol native has been anointed as the predecessor to Tokyo gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz after beating and surpassing record marks at the regional and global levels.Sarno made history after her smashing debut in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. She single-handedly ruled the -71 kg class with a performance for the ages, lifting 104 kg for the snatch and 135 kg in the clean and jerk, registering a total of 239 kilograms, which was tallied as a new SEA Games and Philippine record.In her much-awaited debut at the Paris Olympics, Sarno is looking to replicate her previous successes and deliver a medal for the Philippines.Now ranked No. 5 in the world, Sarno may be one of the favorites to win a medal, but getting a podium finish in her first trip to the Olympics will be easier said than done as she will be facing a tough field bannered by the likes of world champions Loredana Toma of Romania and Neama Said of Egypt, as well as Tokyo Games bronze medalist Chen Wen-huei of Chinese Taipei.Fans will be able to watch Sarno compete on August 10 on the Smart Livestream App.

The Philippine Sports Commission has begun the preparations for the 11th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games scheduled in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on December 1 to 5.The tournament aims to foster excellence and camaraderie in sports among young people in the sub-region.PSC commissioner Walter Torres on Thursday, July 18, assured the successful production of the games, which features athletics, archery, badminton, karate, swimming, sepak takraw, pencak silat, and e-sports.City Tourism Department (CTD) chief Demetrio Alvior Jr. said representatives from BIMP-EAGA visited the country last May to discuss the friendship games, as there are specific requirements that need to be met, particularly because most of the attendees will be Muslims.One of the requirements is halal certification, which Puerto Princesa City and Palawan currently do not have. However, according to Alvior, they are already taking measures to address this issue before the friendship games.“The only challenging part for us is accommodating those coming from Muslim countries since we don’t have a large halal restaurant here. However, we already have strategies in place to address this,”said Alvior.The CTD chief also mentioned that the federation handling the event initially wanted all food to be halal and uniformly served to all Muslim delegates, regardless of the hotel they are staying.“This is a significant and somewhat delicate event, but it is also a test to see if we are serious about advancing in sports. We need to participate in these major events to identify what we still lack and what needs improvement,” he added.Puerto Princesa City will host the BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games for the second time. The first was in 2003.Brunei Darussalam’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan played host in the last edition of the games.

Filipina weightlifter Elreen Ando booked a return trip to the Olympics after a strong showing in the women’s 59 kg event at the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand last April.In what seemed like a passing of the torch moment, Ando overcame Hidilyn Diaz after tallying a personal best 228 kilograms after posting 100 kilos in the snatch and 128 kg in the clean and jerk.It was 6 kg better than the combined effort by Diaz, the first athlete to win an Olympic gold medal for the Philippines in the 55 kg event in Tokyo.The 25-year-old will look to eclipse her past Summer Games. Ando aims to improve upon her seventh-place finish during her Olympic debut in Japan by showcasing her resilience and commitment to success.After missing out on a podium finish at the Olympics in Tokyo, the Cebu native ruled the women’s 59 kg class in the 32nd edition of the biennial sporting event in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Having had enough runner-up finishes in the Southeast Asian Games, Ando shattered records in snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift to give the country its first weightlifting gold from the Cambodia SEA Games last year.Prior to her Paris berth, Ando snared another podium finish after claiming the silver medal in the women’s 59 kg category in the 2024 Asian Weightlifting Championship held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.Her historic win came with a bittersweet feeling as it cost Diaz's Olympic dream ending. But now that she is the country’s bet, Ando is ready to step up to the challenge and make a name for herself.The future is certainly now in Elreen Ando, and maybe a golden ending awaits her redemption arc in Paris.Ando will open her campaign on August 8.

Philippine gymnastics’ golden boy Carlos Yulo was predicted to win medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.The International Gymnast Online - an e-zine and kwon as the leading source of gymnastic news wrote in their July 21 preview of the men’s apparatuses that Yulo will land a gold medal in the men’s floor exercises over defending Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel.

John Ceniza’s journey to the Olympics was one borne out of hard work, sacrifice, and literally carrying around different goods before being able to carry the hopes of a nation hungry for Olympic success.The 26-year-old Cebuano athlete is the first male weightlifter since 2016 who will be representing the Philippines in the Olympic Games.Ceniza secured his first ticket to the Paris Olympics after a strong performance in the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup men’s 61kg event in Phuket, Thailand last April.Ceniza lifted 132 kg in the snatch category and then 168 kg in the clean and jerk. In total, he was able to register a total lift of 300 kilograms, toppling his personal best of 298 kilograms during the 2023 IWF Grand Prix II in Qatar.Ceniza’s powerful and outstanding delivery in these prestigious sports competitions rooted from his humble beginnings of being a freight loader or a ‘kargador’ as a source of his livelihood. He would carry bananas, coconuts, and firewood to sustain his daily needs.It was not until his brother introduced him to a different type of lifting - the sport of weightlifting, where he bagged his first-ever gold medal with a total record of 139kg in the 42 kg category of Batang Pinoy in Bacolod City in 2014.Because of his sheer determination to carry and build his weightlifting career, Ceniza built a whirlwind of international wins.In 2019, he nabbed silver at the Southeast Asian Games in the men’s 55kg category with an overall lift of 252 kg. A year later, at the men’s 61 kg category of the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, he bagged the bronze medal upon carrying 269 kg.He is the third weightlifter from Cebu to represent the country in the Olympics after Elreen Ando in Tokyo 2020 and national team coach Ramon Solis in Seoul 1988.Bringing his experience and determination to the Olympic stage, Ceniza is eyeing to make history by becoming the first Filipino male lifter to win an Olympic gold medal.Ceniza’s shot at that coveted gold medal will be in the men’s 61 kilograms competition of the Paris games on August 7.

LeBron James was selected by his Team USA peers across all sports to be their 2024 flag bearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics.James became the first men’s player selected as a flag bearer following women’s basketball stars Dawn Staley in 2024 Athens Games and Sue Bird for the Tokyo Games in 2021.The four-time NBA champion and all-time NBA leading scorer who will make his fourth appearance in the Summer games will lead a boat of American athletes down the Seine River where the Olympic Opening Ceremony will be held.

Being ranked World No. 2 in the men’s pole vault, Filipino Olympian Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is expected to end the Paris Games 2024 with flying colors by having a podium finish and probably take home the gold for the country.Facing the tall order already, he will be also dealing with added adversity as he has been battling undisclosed “various physical problems” for the past several months. In a lengthy post on Instagram, Obiena said:

In what appeared to be one of the most consequential State of the Nation Addresses or SONAs in recent memory, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., spared one minute of his SONA time to discuss vague plans about his administration’s thrust into sports.For, in a speech loaded with the banning of offshore gaming operations, an affirmation of Philippine territory, and the traditional promises and accomplishments - Bongbong’s third SONA allocated all but a minute for the Philippine sporting world.

Alex Eala climbed to a career-high world ranking of 143 in singles and 208 in doubles in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) list.Eala surged in those ranks after displaying her prowess and snaring a rare double titles win during the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz’s singles and doubles competition in Spain last weekend for her fifth singles pro title and third doubles crown.The 19-year-old improved 12 notches higher than her previous singles ranking of 155 while ascending 31 steps from 239th place in the doubles.After her feat at the W100, Eala gets back into action at the W125 Polish Open in Warsaw, Poland beginning today. She is seeded 4th and is the favorite to win against Isabela Shinikova of Bulgaria in the Round of 32.While in the doubles, Eala is reunited with Latvia's Daria Semenistaja. They will be tested against second seeds Martyna Kubka and Weronika Falkowska of Poland in the quarterfinals.

Around 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials across 17 regions take the spotlight on Monday, July 22, when the 2024 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games kicks off in various venues in Legazpi City.Student-athletes from 400 private schools around the country are expected to showcase their vigor and competence in 27 games composed of eight team sports, 14 individual and dual sports, and five Cultural & Academic Events in the week-long tournament in Albay.A junior year IT student from University of Cebu defied wet surfaces and gloomy weather as he clinched the first-ever gold of the tournament at Bicol University Complex.Mark Mahinay topped the men’s 5,000 meters registering a fast time of 15 minutes and 22.9 seconds to easily beat teammate Franklin Lee (15:53.4) and Ken Jay Moreto (15:55.7) of Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN).The 22-year-old was thrilled for his latest success as he has been longing to become a part of the national team in the future.“I am very happy that I achieved the target time. I am glad that I still performed well despite the heavy rain,” Mahinay said.“I hope I can get in the national team in the future,” he added. “Competitions like this are a good experience for athletes like me who want to improve.”Next off for the Cebuano trackster are 800 meters and 1,500 meters on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.

The William Jones Cup crown is back at the hands of the Filipinos after Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas trounced hometown bets Chinese Taipei and secured a 83-79 victory on Sunday, July 21, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.The Philippine representative completed a title sweep after going undefeated eight times and achieved what they fell short last January when they finished runner-up in the 33rd Dubai International Championship with a team reinforced by former NBA player Dwight Howard. SGA lost to Al Riyadi in the final.In the championship game against Chinese Taipei-A, Tajuan Agee lead the pack with game-high 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, a block, and a perfect nine-of-nine from the free throw line, following him was DJ Fenner who contributed with 15 markers, nine boards, and four steals.RJ Abarrientos tallied 14 on four-of-eight shooting from the three-point line in his last game before joining crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra in PBA.Also standing out is veteran guard Kiefer Ravena as he provided nine markers on a 3-of-6 clip along with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.Chris McCullough, on the other hand, finished with 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.McCullough was later named the tournament Most Valuable Player, averaging 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks in Strong Group’s eight-game sweep.Robert Tsang Hinton led Taiwan’s failed attempt at the title with 16 points, Cheng Yin Chun followed with 13, while Brandon Gilbeck had a double-double of 11, 13 boards along with five blocks as the host team settled for the runner-up finish with its 7-1 record.Strong Group became the seventh Philippine team to rule the annual Jones Cup. The last time the country reigned supreme was in 2019 under the Mighty Sports squad, which incidentally, was also coached by Charles Tiu.

The Women’s Grandmaster title journey continues for chess prodigy Ruelle Canino after setting herself on board for a European trip as part of her preparations for the World Chess Olympiad in September.The 16-year-old reigning champion of the Philippine National Women’s Chess Championships will be tested as she is expected to battle top woodpushers to boost her bid for Woman Grandmaster status.The Far Eastern University standout will jumpstart her European campaign in the HZ University of Applied Sciences Chess Tournament slated August 3-10 in Vlissingen, the Netherlands.She will then go to Germany for the Dortmund Open scheduled on August 10 to 18, followed by the Open Internacional d’escacs Sants-Ciutat de Barcelona on August 23 until September 1.It will also serve as part of her preparation for the Asian Indoor and Martial Games booked this November in Thailand and the FIDE World Chess Olympiad set on September 10 to 23 in Budapest, Hungry.In Vlissingen, Canino will join fellow national team mainstays Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda, who left the country recently for a tournament in Switzerland.The trip is funded by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and Philippine Olympic Committee.The Philippine contingent will return to the country on September 3 then set to leave after a few days with the male woodpushers, coached by Grandmaster Eugene Torre, before they fly to Budapest where they will battle the world’s best. 

Gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxer Eumir Marcial, and rower Joanie Delgaco will open the Philippine campaign at the Paris Games on Saturday, July 27, a day after the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games by the Seine River.Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has high hopes that this year’s delegation will match the feat of weightlifter Hidilyn Dias, who captured the country’s first gold, or surpass the silver medals of boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesty Petecio, all achieved in 2020 Tokyo Olympics.“We are looking forward to Caloy, Eumir and Joanie to give the country that strong start in Paris. They are all prepared and inspired and in high spirits,” Tolentino stated in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.Delgaco, the Philippines’ first-ever female rower to make the Games, will be the first to see action in the quadrennial meet.The 26-year-old will race in the women’s sculls heats at 3:00 p.m. (Manila time) at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, with the hopes of entering the semifinals scheduled on July 29.Meanwhile, gymnast Yulo and boxer Marcial will have their competitions running simultaneously starting at 9:30 p.m.The 23-year-old, who placed fourth in the vault event in Tokyo, will compete in the qualification round of the men’s gymnastics individual all-around at the Bercy Arena. The finals will be set on July 31.Yulo, the 2019 floor exercise world champion and 2021 vault king, is one of the Philippine bets to win a medal. The 10-time Asian Championships gold-medalist finished fourth in vault at the Tokyo Games three years ago.Marcial, on the other hand, will box in the round of 32 in the men’s light-heavyweight division (80kg) at the North Paris Arena.The 28-year-old pride of Zamboanga City, who has a 5-0 record as a pro, bagged the middleweight bronze in Tokyo.“This team, I believe, is the most prepared in Philippine Olympic history,” Tolentino said, also expressing his gratitude to the Philippine Sports Commission for its unrelenting support of the athletes’ training.The Philippines is celebrating its 100th year of participating in Paris, which will gather 10,714 athletes from 206 nations competing in 329 events from 32 sports from July 26 to August 11.

Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala pulled off a double title campaign at the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain on Sunday, July 21, capturing the women’s singles title less than 24 hours after claiming the women’s doubles championship.The 19-year-old displayed her prowess as she earned her fifth International tennis Federation (ITF) singles crown after walloping Andorran standout Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva in the Women’s Finals of the tourney, 6-4, 6-4.Eala advanced to the singles championship round after defeating Yulia Starodubtsewa in the quarterfinals, 7-6, 6-4, and Maria Jose Portillo Ramirez in the semifinal, 6-2, 6-1.A day before the singles championship, Eala bagged the doubles title with France partner Estelle Cascino as they outdueled the Bulgarian-Latvian duo of Lia Karatancheva and Diana Marcinkevica, 6-3, 2-6, 10-4, late Saturday night, July 20.“This win means the world to me, it even made me ugly cry. I am so proud because this represents the culmination of so much hard work,” Eala wrote in an Instagram post.“Securing my biggest titles yet in both singles and doubles is a fairytale finish, and I am overwhelmed with emotion. This will always have a special place in my heart, and I leave here with a pocket full of great memories and the will to work harder.”This week marked the best week of Eala’s pro career as she achieved the rare feat of winning both the singles and doubles titles.The world No. 155 seized her first $100,000 tournament in the process. 

Things will be different when the PBA 49th Season Governor’s Cup opens on August 18 as it adopts a new format for the season-opening conference.The new format will divide the 12 teams in two groups; Group A is composed of reigning Governor’s Cup Champion TNT Tropang Giga together with Meralco Bolts, Converge FiberXers, Northport Batang Pier, Terrafirma Dyip and Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots while Group B is composed of crowd-favorite Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel, together with Blackwater Bossing, Phoenix Fuel Masters, Rain or Shine Elasto Painter, NLEX Road Warriors and San Miguel Beermen.Under the new setup that was announced by league Commissioner Willie Marcial, teams in each group will play each other twice in a double round robin.The top four teams from each group will advance to the crossover quarterfinals, with No. 1 taking on No. 4 and No. 2 battling No. 3 in a best-of-five series.The semifinals and finals will both be a best-of-seven affairs.Meanwhile, the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup and season-concluding Philippine Cup will have the same format as used in the previous seasons. 

After a failed attempt some 30 years ago, the province of Agusan del Sur has been named as the host of the Palarong Pambansa 2026.The development was announced following the passing of the Palarong Pambansa flag on to next year’s host.After nearly 60 years, Ilocos Norte is set to host the Palarong Pambansa once again in 2025. Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia passed on the Palarong Pambansa flag to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc during the grand closing ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).Earlier this year, Agusan del Sur submitted its bid to host the event, showcasing the D.O. Plaza Memorial Sports Complex, which boasts of world-class sporting facilities.The highlight of the sports complex is its 3,000-seat grandstand, rubberized track, football field with artificial grass, Olympic-sized swimming pool, air-conditioned courts for volleyball and basketball, and other amenities.Additional facilities include a 24-room hotel located within the main grandstand and a tennis court.The other Mindanao bidders who submitted their proposal to the Palarong Pambansa Board were the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga City.The last time Mindanao hosted the Palarong Pambansa was in 2019 in Davao City.