UAAP Season 86 volleyball runner-up University of Santo Tomas avoided an early exit after triumphing over debuting Team SOCCSKSARGEN in Pool B of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, July 11.Composed mostly of rookies looking to gain experience, the Golden Tigresses amassed a 25-17, 25-18, 28-30, 25-14 victory with the team banking on Marga Altea’s 17-point effort to finish the group stage of the tournament.UST avenged their stunning 16-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-17, 16-18 defeat at the hands of University of Batangas Lady Brahmans last Wednesday, July 10.Abigail Sinson also contributed 13 points, including an ace that gave UST a commanding lead in the fourth set, while Kaizah Huyno added 11 markers.“We still have a lot to improve on, especially our communication. As a new team, it is super hard for all of us because coming from different schools and regions, we only have five core members of the UST girls volleyball team so it is super hard to pull us all together. But we were able to find a way and I hope this will continue,” said Altea after the match.Team SOCCSKSARGEN, a selection squad from Southern Mindanao, got 16 points from Janelle Maignos while Tresha Parong and Shendy Acebo scored seven and six markers, respectively.Meanwhile, University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) defeated Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23, 25-19, in Pool C.Ressel Pedroza displayed her scoring prowess with 15 points to lead the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc (CESAFI) champion to an all-important win over the NCAA Season 99 third placers, boosting its chances of advancing into the next round.The Lady Panthers bounced back from an opening day 13-25, 15-25, 17-25 loss to Far Eastern University to close the group stage with a 1-1 slate.    USPF will secure a quarters seat if the Lady Tamaraws beat the Lady Pirates on Friday.

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.

Igorot Muay Thai fighter Islay Erika Bomogao, will make her debut in ONE Championship on November 8, a platform where many Igorot MMA athletes have built their reputations. Bomogao recently shared this exciting news on her social media, posting a photo of herself in ONE Championship gloves, indicating her readiness to accept the upcoming challenge in this combat sport. Now that she’s close to reaching the pinnacle of Muay Thai, Bomogao can’t hide her excitement.

James Buytrago and Ran Abadilla displayed great resilience after a first-set loss to overcome Japanese rivals Yoshi Hasegawa and Dylan Kurokawa, 22-24, 24-22, 15-9, in the ongoing Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championship at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa City, Laguna on Thursday, November 8.The Filipino duo rallied from a slow start before sustaining their momentum to seal the game in the decisive third set. “We will not simply break down and give up,” said Buytrago. “The first set was extremely challenging and frustrating, but we kept pushing forward. This win was crucial for us.”

After a successful debut in the ONE Championship Muay Thai circuit last November 8 against Japan’s Fuu, Islay Erika Bomogao is ready to go again. “I wish to compete here again. I promise I will continue to train. I will wait for more opportunities,”  she said. She described her transition in One Championship as a little bit weird and awkward, especially because it was the first time she wore four-ounce gloves for Muay Thai. “It’s weird. Coming from an amateur background since I was 16, I was competing with headgear and competing with 10-ounce gloves. I had a body vest on when I was a junior fighter. When I put on four-ounce gloves for the first time, it was awkward. I was excited, but there was definitely unease at first. I was thinking, ‘[The gloves] are so small, and of course it would be nice if I landed a punch using these gloves, but what if I’m the one on the receiving end?’,” Bomogao stated.“But as time passed, I felt like I was able to adjust, and [when] I got hit, I realized it doesn’t hurt that much.”

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."

It was a grind night for the defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers as ZUS Coffee pushed them to a five-set thriller, 25-22, 28-30, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13, in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.The Smashers improved to 4-0, and now tied with Cignal HD Spikers at the top of the league standings heading into 2025.Alyssa Valdez fired up 17 points, while Jema Galanza had 15 and Michele Gumabao added 14. The Cool Smashers had a 72-66 advantage in kills, allowing them to offset their whopping 33 unforced errors.Also coming through were Bernadeth Pons, and Galanza who scattered 17 and 15 hits, 12 digs and 12 receptions respectively, for the dynastic champion-seeking a magnificent five-peat feat and 11th crown.

The Philippine Men’s Football team’s match against Myanmar ended in a 1-1 draw in the opening match of their 2024 ASEAN Championship campaign at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.Myanmar scored first through Maung Maung Lwin at the 25th minute mark.During the second half, Bjorn Kristenensen scored the goal through a spot kick in the 72nd minute of the game. 

Filipino cue artist Jefrey Roda secured the championship in the 3rd Universal Chinese Taipei Open and the World Nineball Tour (WNT) ranking event title against Ko Pin Yi of Taipei in the finals.In the finals, Roda was down 8-11 to Ko Pin Yi but won the next five racks to seal the win 13-11.It was Roda's first WNT ranking title. He first defeated Johann Chua in the quarterfinal round, 11-3,and dominated Spain's Francis Sanchez Ruiz in the semis, 11-2.In his social media post, Roda expressed his gratitude to those who supported and believed in his skills and ability to win the competition and to become champion. 

Makati FC captured the Girls 13 title at the Gothia World Youth Cup with a commanding 6-0 victory over the San Francisco Seals of the United States in Gothenburg, Sweden, last Saturday, July 19.Nafeeza Ayasha Nori starred for Makati FC, scoring four goals—including a second-half hat-trick—to lead her team to an unbeaten run in the tournament. This triumph marks back-to-back Gothia Cup crowns for much of the same squad that claimed last year’s Girls 12 championship.“We won because we worked as a team and played really well,” said Nori.Chayada Sawangarom, Ariana Gementiza, and Nori all found the net in the first half, giving Makati FC a 3-0 cushion at halftime. The team completed a perfect 8-0 record on their way to the title.“Winning the Gothia Cup for the second time is such an honor, especially since this tournament brings together some of the best teams from around the world. Defending our title was our biggest challenge. The pressure motivated us and gave us more reason to win.” said Gementiza. This year marks Makati FC’s 40th appearance in the prestigious youth football tournament.In the semifinals, Makati FC was equally dominant, defeating Sweden’s Boo FF 6-0. On the boys’ side, Makati FC’s Boys 14 team exited in the Round of 32 after a narrow 2-1 loss to Latvia’s JDFS Alberts 2, following an undefeated group stage campaign.

It was a night to remember at Montano Hall in Cavite City as Stef Berberabe carved her place in Philippine basketball history, becoming the first woman to record a quadruple-double.The WMPBL star was honored in front of her hometown crowd, with WMPBL Commissioner Haydee M. Ong, league president John Kallos, and Senator Francis Tolentino leading the special tribute. The recognition underscored not only Berberabe’s personal achievement but also the growing prominence of women’s basketball in the country.Berberabe, known for her tireless energy and versatility, reflected on the significance of the milestone.“This is more than just my achievement — it’s a victory for women’s basketball,” she said. “I hope this inspires young girls to keep pushing boundaries and chasing their dreams.”Her rare feat — a testament to all-around excellence on the court — resonates beyond statistics. For fans and aspiring players alike, it symbolized the strides women’s basketball continues to make in the Philippines.The celebration at Montano Hall was not only about honoring Berberabe’s historic performance but also about envisioning a brighter, more inclusive future for the sport she represents so passionately.

There’s no secret formula behind Czechia’s improbable march to the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. Just determination, untapped potential, and belief—qualities that came to life in their four-set triumph over Iran, 22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-21, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.Not widely considered contenders in a group that featured powerhouse Brazil, Czechia has defied expectations with steady play and resilience. Now, they find themselves just two wins away from a historic championship run.“I don’t really know [what makes this team unique],” admitted head coach Jiri Novak. “I knew that in this team, I had players with big, big potential. I saw a lot of positive things during practices.”The Czech squad is riding a three-match winning streak and will now face surging Bulgaria, which shocked world No. 4 USA in a thrilling five-set comeback, in the semifinals.“We will play against one of two big teams, Bulgaria or the USA. We will see, we will see,” Novak said before the Bulgaria-USA clash. “Bulgaria is a young team, and the USA also, because they are preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games. We will see.”The semifinals concluded last Saturday, September 27, at the MOA Arena, with Poland, the world’s top-ranked squad, taking on defending champion Italy in the other pairing. The gold and bronze medal matches are scheduled for Sunday, September 28, at the same venue.From underdogs to semifinalists, Czechia’s rise is shaping up to be one of the biggest stories of this year’s World Championship—a reminder that in volleyball, belief and teamwork can sometimes topple tradition and reputation.

Gilas Pilipinas Women's 3x3 player Beth Pettinggil shared her thoughts on Instagram after representing the country at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Xiantao Stop in China.The Gilas Women's team (Manila Gilas) made history by finishing fourth, the highest placement ever by the Philippine national team in the tournament.They defeated Paraguay, 20-17, to advance to the semifinals before falling to China, 21-11, in the semifinals.Pettinggil also made history as the first naturalized player in the Gilas Pilipinas Women's basketball program."Craziest side quest ever but I officially have Filipino citizenship and get to represent the Philippines in 3x3!!! Feeling so blessed to get to play the sport I love and compete within such a supportive and passionate community. Just the beginning with the Gilas family ," she wrote.To more side quests, Beth! 

NLEX Road Warriors survived a hard-fought battle against Terrafirma Dyip, 101-100, in the PBA Governor's Cup last night, at the Ynares Center.NLEX controlled the game in the first three quarters, not until Terrafirma attempted a comeback in the final frame. Terrafirma managed to trim their deficit by outscoring the Road Warriors 33-11, including Justin Strings' mid-range jumper to cut the lead in just one point in the 4th quarter.NLEX held their composure on defense in the final seconds, and Geo Chiu's successful offensive rebound already ran out of time to put a quality bucket, which secured the Road Warriors' victory. DeQuan Jones led his team with 30 points, while Schonny Winston and Robert Bolick added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Under new head coach Jimmy Alapag, the Road Warriors improved to 2-0 in the conference. They are scheduled to face Titan Ultra Giant Risers on July 14. 

The Philippines' top artistic gymnasts are set to take another major step in their international campaign as the national men's and women's teams embark on separate overseas training camps in preparation for two of the biggest events on the 2026 gymnastics calendar.Leading the men's contingent are Olympic champion Carlos Yulo and his younger brother Eldrew Yulo, who will travel to Japan for an intensive training camp aimed at fine-tuning their routines ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and the 54th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam.Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion confirmed that the Yulo brothers will be joined by Justine Ace De Leon, Miguel Beasana, and Filipino-American gymnast Zachary Nunez, forming the core of the country's men's national team.Meanwhile, the Philippine women's artistic gymnastics team will undergo its own high-level training camp in the United States, giving both squads access to world-class facilities, elite coaching, and valuable international training environments.The overseas preparations are being undertaken with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as part of a long-term program designed to keep Philippine gymnastics competitive on the continental and global stages.Building Momentum for Two Major ChampionshipsThe training camps come at a crucial stage of the season, with the 20th Asian Games scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The regional showpiece will gather Asia's strongest gymnastics programs, providing the Philippines with another opportunity to challenge traditional powerhouses.Shortly after the Asian Games, the national team will compete in the 54th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships from October 17 to 25 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Beyond world medals and rankings, the championships serve as an important qualification pathway toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, making every routine and every point critical.For the Filipino gymnasts, the back-to-back competitions represent one of the most demanding stretches of the international season.Yulo Brothers Continue to Lead Philippine GymnasticsCarlos and Eldrew Yulo enter the overseas training camp carrying significant momentum following their impressive performances at the recent Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in China.Carlos captured the gold medal, while Eldrew earned the bronze medal, results that automatically secured their qualification for the World Championships in Rotterdam. Their achievements also confirmed their places on the Philippine team bound for the Asian Games.Carlos, already one of the country's most decorated athletes, continues to set the standard for Philippine gymnastics through his consistency on the international stage. His younger brother Eldrew has steadily emerged as one of the sport's brightest young stars, demonstrating that the Philippines possesses not only an established champion but also a promising next-generation contender.Their presence provides leadership and inspiration for a men's squadTraining overseas has become an essential component of the Philippines' high-performance program, allowing national athletes to sharpen routines under elite coaching, gain exposure to international training standards, and simulate the level of competition they will encounter looking to achieve new milestones against Asia's and the world's best.Investing in International PreparationTraining overseas has become an essential component of the Philippines' high-performance program, allowing national athletes to sharpen routines under elite coaching, gain exposure to international training standards, and simulate the level of competition they will encounter at major championships.Japan has long been recognized as one of the world's leading nations in artistic gymnastics, making it an ideal destination for the men's team. Likewise, the United States offers the women's squad an opportunity to train in one of the sport's most advanced development systems.The GAP believes that these international camps will enhance both technical execution and competitive readiness while strengthening team cohesion before the country's biggest assignments of the year.Eyes on the Road to Los Angeles 2028While medals remain an immediate objective, the broader mission extends beyond 2026. Every international competition now forms part of the Philippines' campaign toward qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.With Carlos and Eldrew Yulo leading a talented national squad, and with the continued support of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission, Team Philippines aims to build on recent international success and further establish itself among Asia's rising gymnastics powers.As the national team departs for its overseas training camps, the journey ahead represents more than preparation—it marks another important chapter in Philippine gymnastics' pursuit of excellence on the continental, world, and Olympic stages.

Swimmer Jasmin Mojdeh of Region IV-A CALABARZON made sure her last Palarong Pambansa stint would be a memorable one as she shattered her previous record in secondary girls 200m butterfly event at the Cebu City Sports Center on Thursday, July 11.In an impressive display of skill and speed, Mojdeh registered a time of 2:19.72 to reset the previous record of 2:22.69 by almost three seconds.“I was really nervous because even though this isn’t an international competition, I know the whole Philippines is watching and they are really counting on me but at the end of the day I just really wanted to enjoy my swim and get a good time,” Modjeh shared in an interview with The Manila Times.The 17-year-old’s gold-medal performance set a new benchmark for future competitors and cemented her reputation as one of the country’s top swimming talents.Mojdeh will compete in five more events in the meet.

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.

Team USA has dominated their Olympic opponents both in the men’s and women’s divisionThe Americans led by NBA superstars LeBron James and Kevin Durant defeated Serbia 110-84 in their opening game of their group stage.LeBron James tallied 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while Durant scored the game high 23 points coming off a perfect field goal from the first half of play.On the other hand, Nikola Jokic paced the Serbian team with 20 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.The win placed Team USA on top of Group C after one set of games. Their next opponent will be the uprising and first time Olympian South Sudan team on July 31.

As the University of Baguio celebrates their 76th Anniversary on Thursday, August 8, they proudly greet their alumni who carry the Philippine flag in the 2024 Olympics.Paris Games bronze medalists Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villgegas together with Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial received huge congratulatory messages from their alma mater where they once carried the red and gray flag as UB Cardinals.Now bringing their talent and skills in the international stage, the university greeted them proudly in their official Facebook page:

Gilas Pilipinas Women failed to build their underdog tale in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament as Hungary roared its way to a 97-60 rout in Rwanda on Tuesday, August 20.The Filipinas were outscored by the world No. 16 in the second quarter, 28-10, to enter the half down, 51-24. Hungary later led by as many as 39 points to even its record to 1-1 while the Philippines fell to a 0-2 record.After an astounding 18-point, 21-rebound double-double performance against world No. 8 Brazil, top anchor Jack Animam was limited to six points, one rebound, and five turnovers in 23 minutes.Afril Bernardino instead took charge with 11 points, six rebounds, and four steals, while Ella Fajardo had 10. Kacey Dela Rosa added nine markers, five boards, and three rejections for Gilas Women.Meanwhile, Angela Torok paced the Hungary squad finishing a game-hig 25-point outing on a 10-of-11 clip, four assists, and three boards, while fellow wingers Debora Dubei and Reka Lelik scored 13 apiece.After a one-day break, Gilas Women will look to keep its slim hopes of advancing to the semifinals alive in their match against Senegal on Thursday, August 22.