National University ruled the UAAP Season 87 Cheerdance Competition, claiming its eight title overall with a breathtaking, space-themed performance on Sunday, December 1, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.With NU capturing their eighth UAAP Cheerdance Competition crown, they are now tied with longtime first-placers University of the Philippines Pep Squad and University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Troupe, solidifying the program's status as an all-time powerhouse in the highly-anticipated annual competition.NU Pep Squad’s gravity-defying, windmill-like stunts propelled the team to a runaway victory, dethroning Far Eastern University with a total of 713 points.Team captain John Paul Cabido credited his coaches for the concept and theme.

Alec Stockton’s heroics led Converge in climbing back from a 20-point deficit to defeat Magnolia, 93-91, and registered their second win in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.The spitfire guard finished with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, issued 10 assists, and grabbed seven rebounds to be named Player of the Game.In the first half, the Hotshots seemed to control the tempo of the game behind the hot shooting backcourt duo of Jerom Lastimosa and Jerrick Ahanmisi to steer their team to a 53-38 lead.After the break, Magnolia managed to erect a 20-point lead but the FiberXers managed to trim down the lead to eight at the end of the third period.

Farm Fresh stormed into the win column of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after pulling off a major upset against Akari, 25-23, 25-21, 25-14, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Saturday, November 30.Louie Romero and Trisha Tubu spearheaded the Foxies’s offense, ending a two-game losing streak against heavily fancied Akari Chargers. 

The Capital1 Solar Spikers won their first game of the 2024–25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after prevailing over the Nxled Chameleons in four sets, 21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-18, on Saturday, November 30, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.The Solar Spikers ended a three-game losing streak and improved their record to 1-3 after rallying from an eight-point deficit in the second set.With a 13–20 deficit, Capital1 was on the verge of losing the second set after losing the first frame. However, the arrival of May Macatuno, replacing Iris Tolenada off the bench sparked a change in momentum.

Cignal kept their record unblemished despite the third-set stumble to end Choco Mucho's two-game winning streak, 25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, November 28, at Philsports Arena in Pasig.Five HD Spikers finished in double digits, including playmaker Gel Cayuna, as they tied sister team PLDT with identical 3-0 records at the top of the standings.Four-time Best Setter Cayuna recorded 16 excellent sets while also producing 11 points, including seven attacks, three blocks, and one ace against the Flying Titans.

ZUS Coffee kept their momentum alive, logging its second victory against winless Galeries Tower, 25-22, 25-16, 25-19, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday, November 28.The Thunderbelles achieved their first-ever sweep since entering the league in the 2024 season with this victory.ZUS Coffee, once a consistent bottom-dweller, is currently tied for fourth position alongside Petro Gazz, Akari, Chery Tiggo, and Choco Mucho, all of whom have identical 2-1 records.

The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 will begin on September 12 with the opening match between the host nation, the Philippines, and Tunisia at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.The 64th-ranked Philippine men’s volleyball team will play world No. 24 Tunisia, an 11-time African champion, to round out the largest edition of the global tournament.After its tournament debut, Alas will take a four-day break before starting its home campaign against the current African champion and world No. 20 Egypt.The host team will play Iran, the second-highest ranked Asian team, on September 18 to wrap up pool play in what may be a make-or-break matchup for a berth in the Round of 16.The remaining eight-pool, 32-team field will be divided across the Pasay City site  and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.Pools D featuring USA, E piloted by Slovenia, and H starring Brazil will play at the MOA Arena with Alas and Pool A.Meanwhile, Pool B with top-ranked Poland, C with second-seeded France, F with powerhouse Italy and G with fan-favorite Japan will stage pool play at the Big Dome.The knockout stage will take place in Pasay over eight days, from September 20 to September 28.

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.

Hong Kong Eastern walloped Phoenix to notch its debut win, 102-87, in the Philippine Basketball Association, or PBA, Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday, November 27.HK Eastern showed no jitters right from the start and just took care of business the rest of the way for a 1-0 start, while the Fuel Masters fell to a 0-1 card. Familiar faces led the charge for the Hong Kong team with ex-PBA import Cameron Clark and former Bay Area player Hayden Blankley starring on both ends. Clark, who has played for San Miguel and NLEX in the past, recorded a double-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.Blankley poured in 18 markers, dishing out five dimes and three rejections after making his PBA comeback nearly two years after the Dragons lost to Ginebra in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals.

Converge registered a resounding 116-87 victory over new-look Terrafirma to kick off their Philippine Basketball Association or PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup campaign on Wednesday, November 27, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.The FiberXers delivered 14 three-pointers in the game, including nine in the decisive second half that completely took the fight out of the Dyip. Converge established the tone by defeating the Dyip 34-16 in the first period. They also showed composure by overcoming Terrafirma's third quarter storm.Import Cheick Diallo, who played five seasons in the NBA, had an outstanding debut, dominating the paint with a monster double-double of 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting and 16 rebounds with two assists, a steal, and a block.“When we got Cheick, we know we are getting a high-motor guy, athletic, can jump out of the gym. What we saw now is what we expected him to play like,” Converge head coach Franco Atienza said.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup will open with a lot of twists tonight, November 27, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.Terrafirma and Converge will open the curtain at the 5:00 PM encounter.The Dyip will be parading Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel whom they recently acquired via trade with San Miguel Beermen in exchange for Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig.They will be joined by Stanley Pringle, Kevin Ferrer, Aldrech Ramos, Mark Nonoy, Keith Zaldivar, Mark Sangalang, Tommy Olivario, CJ Catapusan, Aljun Melencio, Paolo Hernandez, Didat Hanapi, Kemark Carino, Brent Paraiso, and import Ryan Earl Richards.Terrafirma’s center Christian Standhardinger, on the other hand, is relegated to the injured/reserve list.The Dyip will also parade a new head coach in Raymond Tiongco.Meanwhile, the FiberXers will also have new weapons that coach Franco Atienza can utilize.Converge taps the services of former NBA player Cheick Diallo to be their reinforcement in mid-season conference, while also securing the sweet-shooting guard Jordan Heading, who was a former top overall pick in the special Gilas draft.They will be joining the Justin Arana and Alec Stockton duo, together with veteran Alex Cabagnot, Kevin Racal, Inand Fornilos, Kamron Vigan-Fleming, Bryan Andrade, Mike Nieto, Deschon Winston, Paolo Javillonar, Jeo Ambohot, JL Delos Santos, Bryan Santos, and King Caralipio. Patrick Maagdenberg is the one relegated to the injured/reserve list.

If Justin Brownlee were to ask, Kai Sotto has the capacity and potential to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).This was what Brownlee said after Gilas Pilipinas’ successful matches against New Zealand and Hong Kong last Thursday and Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.According to the three-time PBA best import, Sotto's performance level in their past games proved that he is capable of competing in the type and class of play in the NBA.Apart from that, Kai also has a big advantage in having a 7-foot-3 height, and besides this, he has the strong physique and skills of an NBA player.“Man, I've been saying, I feel like he's good enough to play in the NBA. Yeah, in my honest opinion. Of course, he's got the height, he's got the size and the skill. But he's been through so much,”  Brownlee said. The six-time champion also said that Kai Sotto has great potential to be included in the NBA because of the qualities he has seen since he recently played with him. He also said that Kai will go far if he can play in the oldest professional basketball league in the world.“For me, it's just great to see, you know, a young player like him with so much potential and just to see him start fulfilling his potential. He's got a long way to go. You know, he's only in his early 20s. So, I'm happy for his progression and I'm excited to see what the future holds for him,” Brownlee added. It can be recalled that Sotto recorded 12 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and two assists in Gilas Pilipinas' previous match against Hong Kong, while last Thursday in their match against New Zealand, Sotto recorded 19 markers, 10 boards and seven dimes.The wins of Gilas in window 2 gave them a solid hold of the lead in Group B with 4-0 win-loss record.After sweeping the second window of the qualifiers, Gilas is now qualified for the FIBA ​​Asia Cup to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in August next year.Meanwhile, Gilas will next face Chinese Taipei in the third window of the FIBA ​​Asia Cup Qualifiers on February 20 and Gilas against New Zealand again on February 23.

EJ Laure has signed with Nxled for the ongoing 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference. The Chameleons on Monday afternoon, November 25, welcomed the decorated outside spiker.“We’re so thrilled to have you on board and can’t wait to see you light up this fresh start! We’re rooting for you on your return to the PVL court, EJ!” Nxled shared in a Facebook post.

A discus thrower from Masbate bagged her first gold medal in the 2024 Batang Pinoy National Championships that started in Puerto Princesa on Sunday, November 24.Courtney Jewel Trangia registered a heave of 38.30-meters in the girls' division at the Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex to secure her third consecutive title in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.The said competition in the girls’ discus throw event proved her continuing dominant streak after winning the same event at the Philippine Athletics Championships in Pasig last April. Despite bagging the gold medal, Trangia said she was not satisfied with her performance as she was aiming to throw over 40 meters. Also, this is her last Batang Pinoy and she’s happy that she set a new record in this national sporting event. “I’m overjoyed to win the first gold medal in this year’s Batang Pinoy National Championship,” said Trangia, a Grade 11 student from the Masbate Sports Academy (MSA).“This is my last Batang Pinoy, so I am sad and happy that I will leave this new record here,” Trangia added.  

The final week of the UAAP Season 87 elimination round featured standout performances from rookies Amiel Acido and Cielo Pagdulagan.Acido of University of Santo Tomas and Pagdulagan of National University were named the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Players of the Week (POW) for the men's and women's tournaments, respectively, as the Growling Tigers advanced to the Final Four and the Lady Bulldogs finished a sweep of eliminations.Acido defeated fellow teammate Mo Tounkara, Quention Millora-Brown and Harold Alarcon of the University of the Philippines, and PJ Palacielo of NU to attain the POW honor of the season.The 6-foot-4 former University of Perpetual Help System DALTA star recorded 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block in UST's resounding 75-49 victory over Adamson, helping the team advance to the semifinals for the first time in five years."I'm just thankful to those who guided me, especially the coaches, my teammates, and then the PTs. They are the reason why I am in this position. I am very thankful to them and I am also grateful for the blessings that have come to me and the opportunity given by Coach Pido," said Acido in Filipino."I am very happy not only for myself but also for the whole team. They have wanted to get back to the Final Four for a long time. My mindset from the very beginning is that when I'm given a chance, I'll do everything to contribute for them, and that's it, so that we can fulfill our goals as a team."

Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada won the gold medal in the men’s doubles competition at the Bahrain International Series 2 in Diamond Jubilee Hall in Manama, Bahrain.The Smash Pilipinas - Philippine badminton duo defeated Vimalraj Annadurai and Mauryan Kathiravan of India, 21-14, 21-15, in the finals.

Kai Sotto, Kevin Quiambao, and Carl Tamayo showed their prowess on Sunday night, November 24, at the Mall of Asia Arena when Philippines defeated Hong Kong, 93-54, to secure a ticket in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 to be held in Saudi Arabia.Sotto delivered another double-double performance with 12 points and 15 rebounds, to go along with two assists and two blocks, while Quiambao added eight markers, five boards and four dimes.Tamayo scored a game-high 16 points highlighted by two triples and 50 percent shooting from the field. He also grabbed five rebounds and dished off one assist.Gilas showed their might over the Hong Kong squad after the opening quarter by establishing a nine-point lead, 25-16.June Mar Fajardo led the Gilas domination in the opening period and finished off with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, eight boards, one dime, one deflection, and a block.After Fajardo set the tempo in the first quarter of play, Tamayo was on fire in the second period to add a point in their lead and finished the half at 45-35.In the third canto, it was a total team effort by the Philippine team as they showcased their passing in skills and had a 9-0 run to erect a 27-point lead. However, Hong Kong point guard Oliver Xu made a triple on the buzzer to cut Gilas lead at 67-43.

The National University Lady Bulldogs dominated the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 86-58, in the Season 87 women's basketball tournament on Saturday, November 23, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, completing a 14-game sweep of the elimination round and guaranteeing an outright UAAP finals berth. This marks NU's tenth consecutive Finals appearance, having only lost to De La Salle University in Season 76 and the University of Santo Tomas last season.

Creamline prevailed in the highly anticipated rematch of last season’s conference, trouncing Akari in straight sets, 26-24, 25-17, 25-16, to secure its second consecutive victory in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Candon City Arena on Saturday, November 23.The Cool Smashers were boosted by the return of three-time MVP Tots Carlos, who made her first appearance since missing the import-laden event and Invitational Conference due to a knee injury.Creamline took a 16-10 lead in the third set thanks to a 7-2 run led by Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons, who each had three and two points.Bea de Leon would help the Cool Smashers gain ground, and Pau Soriano, a substitute, would kill block Faith Nisperos to complete the victory.