Rookie forward Sonny Estil had an impressive first outing in the PBA, showing poise and energy for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel during the highly anticipated Manila Clasico against Magnolia last Sunday.The 11th overall pick finished with nine points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes and 41 seconds, providing a spark in Ginebra’s 80–73 loss to open the 50th Season Philippine Cup.Estil admitted that he felt the pressure of playing his first PBA game but fought to overcome it, saying the experience reminded him of his childhood days playing basketball. Having been accustomed to performing before large crowds, he still recognized that competing in the PBA felt different, given the level of talent and intensity.

Spain’s Alejandro Huerta and Adrian Gavira, and Finland’s Anniina Parkkinen and Valma Prihti, claimed top honors at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge, wrapping up an electrifying weekend at Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna.Huerta and Gavira clinched their first Challenge title as partners after outlasting England’s Javier and Joaquin Bello in a thrilling three-set men’s final, 21–17, 19–21, 17–15. Huerta led the charge with 29 of Spain’s 40 attacks, crediting Gavira’s clutch defense for the win.In the women’s final, Parkkinen and Prihti rallied for a 17–21, 21–14, 15–11 comeback over Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite, securing Finland’s first-ever Beach Pro Tour Challenge gold. Prihti delivered a dominant all-around performance with 25 points, including 16 attacks, five blocks, and four aces.Italy’s Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri secured men’s bronze after a comeback win over Austria’s Christoph Dressler and Philip Waller, while Australia’s Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming took women’s bronze by edging Czechia’s Kylie Neuschaeferova and Martina Maixnerova.The FIVB-sanctioned event, hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation under President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, drew 111 pairs from 25 countries—highlighting the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class beach volleyball.

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles preserved their unblemished record after staging a spectacular reverse sweep victory, 25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 25-12, 15-7, over the Akari Chargers in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday, November 4, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.Living up to their growing reputation as comeback specialists, the Thunderbelles dug deep after trailing two sets to one, flipping the momentum with a dominant fourth frame before sealing the deal in the fifth. The win pushed ZUS Coffee to a perfect 5–0 record, solidifying their grip on the top spot in Pool B.American import Anna DeBeer once again led the Thunderbelles’ fiery charge, erupting for 33 points built from 32 attacks and a block, while also anchoring the floor defense with 8 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions, earning her Player of the Game honors.Veteran opposite spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga showcased her trademark versatility, turning in an all-around outing of 11 points, 13 excellent digs, and 13 excellent receptions to lead the charge for the Thunderbelles. Rookie middle blocker Riza Nogales made an immediate impact off the bench, tallying 11 markers highlighted by four emphatic kill blocks that helped shift the momentum.Chinnie Arroyo continued to shine in her reserve role with 10 points, while AC Miner chipped in seven markers, delivering timely hits during ZUS Coffee’s fiery start in the decisive fifth set.Running the offense with poise, setter Cloanne Mondoñedo dished out 27 excellent sets and added four points of her own, while libero Alyssa Eroa anchored the defense with 20 excellent digs, ensuring stability in the backline.Akari, meanwhile, dropped to a 3-2 record but still secured a spot in Pool C alongside the unbeaten Thunderbelles and defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers.Despite a fiery start that saw them take control in the opening two sets, Akari faltered down the stretch, undone by 32 costly errors that proved too much to overcome.Annie Michem spearheaded the Chargers’ offense with a stellar 27-point output built on 25 attacks and two kill blocks, while also contributing 17 excellent receptions on defense. Eli Soyud followed with 15 markers, while Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo added 11 apiece. Soltones also anchored the floor defense with 19 excellent receptions and nine digs, providing her usual steady presence at the back.

Angeline Viriña a native from the town of Sta. Cuz, Laguna won the gold medal in her first participation in the international championship. In Viriña's debut fight, she immediately showed her skill and talent in this type of martial arts in the women's -45kg class. It defeated opponents, one from the host country Uzbekistan and the other from Indonesia.Apart from the gold medal, the Philippine pencak silat team also won five silver medals and nine bronze medals in the 8th Asian Pencak Silat Championship 2024 in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.According to PhilSilat Sports Association President Princess Jacel Kiram, a total of 22 athletes were sent to compete in the said championship and 19 of these athletes won medals. Kiram expressed pride in the team’s achievement, highlighting their dedication and perseverance.“Out of 22 athletes, 19 secured medals— a remarkable testament to your hard work. Your efforts have made us all proud,” Kiram shared in a social media post.Kiram also thanked the Philippine Sports Commission for its continued support, adding, “Mabuhay ang Team Pilipinas! Here’s to more success in the future!”  Last week, the Philippines also won a medal for the first time in the recently concluded 2024 Asian Kickboxing Championship in Cambodia where Philippines won 5 gold, 1 silver, and 10 bronze medals. Paris Olympian boxer Hergie Bacyadan was one of the athletes who brought home a gold medal.

It will be a battle between pals who have been successful in their coaching career in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals.Coaches Tim Cone and Chot Reyes will face each other again after 12 years since they last battled one another. The two mentors met in the PBA Finals six times already but the last time was way back in 2012 when the B-Meg Llamados of Cone defeated Reyes’ Talk N’ Text, 90-84, in overtime of the Game 7 of Commissioner’s Cup finale.A win in the upcoming series will give one of the coaches an advantage as they split their head-to-head encounter at 3-3.Cone is happy that his team is in the Finals again and it will be against his good friend Reyes that he will battle again. Coach Chot was Coach Tim’s chief deputy when they were still starting together in Alaska.

Cebuano para triathlete Alex Silverio waved the Philippine flag on the international stage after his silver medal finish in the PTS4 Men Classification at the 2024 Asia Triathlon Para Cup Chiba in Japan on Saturday, October 19.The 34-year-old left arm amputee claimed a podium finish after completing the 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run course with a remarkable time of 1:16:07. Silverio crossed the finish line just six minutes behind Japanese Keiya Kaneko, who bagged the gold with a time of 1:06:27, while Kaneko’s compatriot Chikara Ara clinched the bronze medal after clocking in 1:17:09. 

Stephen Holt is already making a tremendous impact in his first ever conference wearing the Barangay Ginebra uniform.One of the best performances of the PBA’s Season 48 Rookie of the Year awardee happened on November 3, Sunday, when he was named as the Best Player of the Game with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, and five steals to lead the Gin Kings to their second straight victory in the Finals after failing their first two battles.Last season, Holt led the Terrafirma Dyip to a playoff appearance in his rookie year. But before Season 49 started, he and Isaac Go were traded to Ginebra in exchange for Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle.In an exclusive interview with Scoreline.ph, Holt shared about his experience of being part of the most popular team in the league. He also shared what he can contribute in the championship round.The Fil-Am guard said that it’s an amazing feeling that he’s back in the Finals after seven years of waiting. His last stint was in 2017 when he was still playing in the Czech League.Now that he is back in the championship competition, the sophomore said that it’s the reward of the hard work that they put into the season.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters showcased grit and determination but ultimately fell short against Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Volleyball Club in a thrilling five-set match, 24-26, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 9-15, in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Tuesday, April 22, at the Philsports Arena.After falling behind two sets to none, the High Speed Hitters mounted an impressive comeback, winning the third and fourth sets behind the efforts of Savi Davison and Cuban import Wilma Salas. Davison spearheaded the third-set resurgence, while Salas provided crucial support in the fourth to force a deciding set.PLDT appeared poised for a breakthrough in the fifth set, pulling even at 8-all. However, a center line fault swung the momentum back to the Thai side, sparking a decisive 7-1 run from Nakhon Ratchasima that sealed the match. The rally was capped by a service ace, ending PLDT’s spirited challenge.

Manny Pacquiao announced that his long layoff from boxing has reignited his passion as he prepares for his world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas.The 46-year-old Filipino icon, returning four years after his last fight, is training with veteran coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.“Now I’m back, I’m hungry to fight again. I’m hungry to fight in a big fight like this—to work hard, have discipline, everything like that. I’ve missed boxing. I feel the passion, the fire in my eyes, working hard—it’s still there,” Pacquiao said.While he acknowledged that recovery now takes a bit longer, he believes his physical condition remains sharp.“I’m fast, I can move like I did before. I can run in the mountains with the young boxers, so I’m happy. I’m enjoying this training camp. There are a couple of adjustments for bodily recovery. We have to control the body, give it time to rest and recover,” he added.Pacquiao, a 12-time world champion, wouldn’t confirm if his return will be a one-off or the start of a full comeback.“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked about future bouts. “Now I’m back, so one at a time. After this fight, we can plan whatever we want. For now, I’m focused on this fight,” he emphasized.Despite some skepticism—including comments from British promoter Eddie Hearn about the risks of facing the younger Barrios—Pacquiao responded confidently: “Just watch on July 19. It will be a good fight,” he concluded.

Alex Eala is taking a well-deserved break following a demanding run across the clay, grass, and hard court seasons.The 20-year-old Filipina tennis star recently shared a seaside photo on Instagram with the caption, “Is this what they call eurosummer?”Her break comes at a crucial time, after requiring a medical timeout during her first-round match against Markéta Vondroušová at the National Bank Open in Montreal.This rest period will allow Eala to recover and prepare for her next major appearance at the US Open in New York.To prioritize her recovery, Eala and her team have decided she will skip both the upcoming Cincinnati Open and the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey, Mexico.As a result, she is expected to slide in the WTA rankings due to missing out on potential points from these events. Meanwhile, the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) is hopeful that Alex Eala will represent the country at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok this December.“We’re hoping she could play for the Philippines. Let’s all pray she does,” said Philta Executive Director Tonette Mendoza.Mendoza said Eala’s participation will depend on her schedule, as the world No. 65 is working on arrangements but is eager to compete.“She’s just trying to fit it into her schedule, but she seems very excited, so we really hope she can make it,” Mendoza added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of an Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to oversee preparations for the Philippines’ historic hosting of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup (FFWWC) 2025, which will take place from November 21 to December 7 in Pasig City and Negros Occidental.Under Administrative Order No. 35, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on July 30, the IATF will serve as the central coordinating body for all government efforts related to the planning and execution of the global tournament.“The hosting of the FFWWC 2025 aims to advance the development of futsal in the country, inspire greater sports engagement among Filipinos, elevate the Philippines’ standing in the international sports arena, and generate economic and tourism opportunities through a globally recognized event.”Led by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the task force will work with national agencies, local government units, and private stakeholders to ensure the successful staging of the event, which will feature the world’s top 16 women’s futsal teams.According to the order, hosting the FFWWC 2025 aims to promote futsal development in the country, inspire greater sports engagement among Filipinos, elevate the Philippines’ international sports profile, and boost economic and tourism opportunities.The IATF is responsible for developing and implementing detailed plans and programs—including equipment procurement and logistics—and may form an executive committee for operational oversight.The PSC is also authorized to form an executive committee to oversee and guide the task force’s operations.All government agencies, state universities and colleges, government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and other instrumentalities are directed to fully support the IATF, while local government units and the private sector are encouraged to contribute as the country gears up for its first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup—a historic milestone for Philippine sports.

The Philippine women’s national football team, known as the Filipinas, begins its title defense in the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup on Thursday night against Timor-Leste at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho, Vietnam. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. Manila time).The Filipinas are eager to start strong after settling in Vietnam last Sunday. The tournament, formerly known as the AFF Women’s Championship, features a new name but the same high stakes. The Filipinas captured the 2022 title at home, with Sarina Bolden scoring eight goals and leading the squad to a 3–0 victory over Thailand in the final.Despite being heavy favorites against Timor-Leste—who qualified after Singapore’s withdrawal—head coach Mark Torcaso is focused on player development and preparation for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup.“I’m not too worried about what the opponents are doing. We’re going to focus on our team and give every young girl a chance in this tournament,” said Torcaso.Several key players are unavailable due to the tournament falling outside the FIFA window, including Katrina Guillou, Sara Eggesvik, Meryll Serrano, and Sarina Bolden, who is recovering from injury. However, veterans such as Quinley Quezada, Chandler McDaniel, Olivia McDaniel, Hali Long, and Inna Palacios are set to guide a younger squad.“These veterans are vital—they’ll share their experiences from the AFF, World Cup, and Asian Cup with our younger players,” Torcaso added.New talents, including Jaycee DeFazio, Adelaide Wyrzynski, Azumi Oka, Aaliyah Schinaman, and several youth program standouts, are poised to make their senior debuts.As they open their Serenity Cup campaign, the Filipinas are not just aiming to defend their regional crown, but also to build the future of women’s football in the Philippines.

Defending champion De La Salle University is headed back to the finals after overpowering host Japan University Select Team, 88-75, in the 2025 World University Basketball Series (WUBS) Final Four on Sunday, August 10, at the Yoyogi National Gym in Tokyo.The Green Archers broke the game open with a decisive 22-7 run in the second quarter, turning a slim 19-17 lead into a commanding 41-24 halftime advantage. Despite a stronger second-half push from the Japanese squad, La Salle held firm to secure its second straight WUBS championship appearance.La Salle, the UAAP Season 87 runner-up, will face either Korea University or Nippon Sport Science University in Monday’s title game. Last year, the Archers claimed the title over Korea University, 101-86, led by Kevin Quiambao, who now plays in the Korean Basketball League. This time, Mike Phillips anchored La Salle’s charge, building on his strong quarterfinal performance against National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei.Supporting Phillips were Mason Amos, Kean Baclaan, Jacob Cortez, Luis Pablo, Earl Abadam, and Vhoris Marasigan.Meanwhile, UAAP champion UP exited early, falling 75-71 to Korea University in the first round and 96-77 to Australia’s University of Sydney in the battle for fifth place.The WUBS is an annual knockout tournament featuring eight collegiate champion teams from across Asia.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed that the UAAP has denied the league’s request to allow graduating and one-and-done players to join the upcoming September 7 PBA Draft while still completing their collegiate eligibility.Marcial said he received a letter from UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag, who explained that the issue was thoroughly discussed by the UAAP Board of Managing Directors. “This matter involves a policy issue across all our sports programs. We are unable to favorably act on the request at this time. We must also ensure consistency in our regulations concerning student-athletes entering professional leagues,” Saguisag wrote.As a result, graduating UAAP players will have to wait another nine months before they can apply for the next PBA Draft, potentially stalling their transition to the professional ranks and affecting their career momentum.Saguisag also added that the matter would be referred to the UAAP’s sports and eligibility committees for further review and possible amendments in future seasons.In contrast, the NCAA allows its graduating players to enter the PBA Draft as long as they finish their final collegiate season before turning pro—a policy seen as more supportive of athletes’ career development.Among the UAAP standouts who could have entered this year’s draft are La Salle’s Michael Phillips, UP’s Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres, and several others. With the UAAP’s decision, these prospects must now wait until next year’s draft to begin their professional journey.

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal was quick to congratulate Filipina star Alex Eala after her breakthrough WTA title win at the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico. Nadal, who posted his message on X (formerly Twitter), praised Eala’s achievement and her impact on Philippine tennis.“Congrats @AlexEala05 for your first WTA (trophy). I am happy and proud of what you are achieving for yourself and for the Philippines,” wrote Nadal.Eala, who trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, rallied to defeat Hungary’s Panna Udvardy and claim her first WTA crown—the first ever for a Filipina. Meanwhile, the Filipina tennis star Alex Eala continued her steady climb in the world rankings, moving up to No. 61 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) standings ahead of her campaign in the WTA 250 São Paulo Open in Brazil.The 20-year-old lefty, seeded third in the tournament, opened against French qualifier Yasmine Mansouri (WTA No. 380) in a match today.Eala jumped 14 places from her previous rank of No. 75 following her historic breakthrough in Mexico, where she captured her and the Philippines’ first-ever WTA crown by rallying past Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the Guadalajara 125 final.Her momentum also came from a memorable debut main-draw victory at the US Open, where she stunned World No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11). That result marked her first Grand Slam singles win after featuring in all four majors this season.Eala’s latest ranking puts her on course to surpass her career-best No. 56, which she reached in June after a runner-up finish at the Eastbourne Open.Following her Brazil stint, Eala is expected to join tournaments in Asia as part of her buildup for a possible return to the Philippine team in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December. She previously won three bronze medals in the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi but skipped the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh.

The United States weathered an early storm before flexing its championship pedigree, rallying past Slovenia, 19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20, to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena.The world No. 4 Americans looked shaky at the start, falling behind 10-15 and conceding the opening set. But once they settled in, they proved too strong, reeling off three straight sets to secure the Round of 16 victory in just under two hours.Now undefeated, USA sets up a high-stakes clash with fellow unbeaten Bulgaria on Thursday for a place in the semifinals. Bulgaria earlier swept Portugal, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23, sealing its first Top 8 finish in 15 years.Opposite hitter Gabriel Garcia was unstoppable, delivering a monster performance with seven aces and a game-high 26 points built on 15 kills and four blocks. He also tallied 11 digs to anchor the Americans on both ends.Ethan Champlin and Jordan Ewert chipped in 15 and 14 points, while middle blockers Jeffrey Jendryk II and Merrick McHenry combined for 16. Team captain and playmaker Micah Christenson controlled the tempo with 39 excellent sets, while libero Erik Shoji steadied the floor defense with 11 digs.“I think we kind of needed that first-set adversity,” Christenson admitted. “Slovenia came out serving really well, as many teams tend to do against us. But we increased our service pressure, dialed in our passing, and fought off some big serves. It wasn’t the prettiest, but this team finds ways to win.”Riding momentum from their bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and hungry to end a 39-year world championship drought, the Americans showed poise under pressure. After squaring the match with a dominant 8-1 run in the second set, they never looked back, dictating the pace through aggressive serving and balanced attacking.Slovenia, the world No. 6 and a familiar Top 5 contender on the global stage, struggled to keep up in the absence of star spiker Rok Mozic, who sat out with a knee injury. Nik Mujanovic and Ziga Stern led the Slovenians with nine and eight points, but no player broke double digits in the loss.Despite the setback, Slovenia exits with pride, having reached the Round of 16 in the tournament’s largest-ever edition featuring 32 nations.

After wrapping up her season with a hard-fought Round-of-16 loss to Canada’s Victoria Mboko (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) at the Hong Kong Open, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is already looking ahead — with the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) firmly in her sights.“SEA Games is in my plans. It’s definitely in my plans,” said Eala after her match in Hong Kong.The 20-year-old sensation, who has become one of the brightest young stars in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour, is expected to bring her world-class form to Team Philippines when the 33rd SEA Games take place this December in Thailand.Eala is coming off a breakthrough WTA season, highlighted by a dream semifinal run in the Miami Open, which propelled her into the top 75 in the world rankings and eventually to her career-best ranking of No. 51.“It’s really amazing. The target I had to end the year was to make the top 100 and that was kind of like pushing it. We got past it by a mile. I’m so happy with regards to next year,” said Eala. “I’m confident that my team has planned and we’ll plan accordingly and I’m here to give it my all and I’ll do my best to get better.”Her 2025 campaign also featured several historic milestones — including the Philippines’ first-ever US Open main draw victory, when she defeated Clara Tauson in the first round, and her first WTA title at the Guadalajara 125 Open.With her momentum and confidence at an all-time high, Eala’s potential SEA Games return could provide a major boost to Philippine tennis — and another chance to make history for the country.“If it were to happen, I would be so, so happy, and it’s just such a milestone for Philippine tennis. Not just obviously for me but for everybody there because growing up, we never had these kinds of tournaments. As long as I can remember, we didn’t even have a 15K in a professional international tournament, so to come in with a 125 is such a big step, and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.”“It’s only the start, so I’m so happy with that news, even if it’s just in the talks. The fact that they took a step and we’re taking action is something I’m so proud of and excited to see evolve.” Eala added.

If there's someone in a Barangay Ginebra’s uniform that's consistent in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup Finals, it will be the former MVP Scottie Thompson.Before the Finals started, Thompson shared his thoughts about the Governors’ Cup Last Dance with Scoreline.ph.He said that the team is happy that they are back in Finals but the job is not yet done.After their grueling series against San Miguel Beermen in the semi-final round, Thompson said that they will bring the same intensity to the championship round.The seven-time PBA champion also said that they expect a tougher series against TNT Tropang Giga especially since both teams know each other well.

The two teams representing the Philippines are aiming for the fifth consecutive crown in the Mobile Legends M6 World Championships to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from November 28 to December 15.Fnatic Onic PH led by coach Tony Senedrin and Aurora MLBB led by coach Aniel ‘Master the Basics’ Jiandani are the two Philippine teams that will compete in the MLBB M6 World Championship.

Veteran setter Alohi Robins-Hardy has joined the coaching staff of the University of the Philippines women’s volleyball team for the UAAP Season 87, which will begin in February 2025.The UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development on Wednesday, November 21, announced the new role of Robins-Hardy as one of the assistant coaches for the Fighting Maroons.The 28-year-old Filipina-American has been assigned to supervise the growth of promising playmaker Heart Magsombol as UP seeks to strengthen its foundation under first-year head coach Benson Bocboc.