Meralco Bolts import Allen Durham has decided to retire from playing basketball to spend more time with his family.This was confirmed by Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo, during the send off party given by his team. “AD has decided to retire and he just feels it’s the right time. He wants to spend time with his children,” said Trillo.The Meralco Bolts head coach believes that the participation of Durham in the team was  considered a big part in turning the Meralco Bolts into what it is today. The Bolts coach also believes that their losses in this conference laid the foundations for their team to become stable and strong in their next journey.

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.”

Choco Mucho defeated Capital1 in four sets, 25-20, 26-24, 26-28, 25-9, to record its second consecutive victory in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, November 21, at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.Choco Mucho launched an 8-1 blitz to start the fourth frame after an unsuccessful attempt to rally in the third set. Dindin Santiago-Manabat's cross-court kill would give the Flying Titans their largest advantage, 24-7.Luth Malaluan's swift attack in the middle would then seal the victory.

Meralco blew a double-digit lead against the Busan KCC Egis, 68-72, in the continuation of the East Asia Super League (EASL) home-and-away season on Wednesday, December 18, at the Busan Sajik Gymnasium. The Bolts appeared to be headed for their third EASL victory and a trip to the Final Four.With 4:02 remaining, the Bolts appeared to be in control, 66-53, but their 13-point advantage was erased by Heo Ung, headlining the comeback with four consecutive three-pointers to reduce the deficit to just one.The 31-year-old Ung scored an easy layup to give Busan the lead after Chris Newsome missed a layup. The Bolts turned to the returning Akil Mitchell with four seconds remaining in the game, but he made a poor turn-around jumper that missed the basket.Ung finished with a game-high 31 points, 17 of which came in the final four minutes of the game. Deonte Burton contributed 26 markers, 14 rebounds, and five assists in the come-from-behind win. 

In a Finals series that reached its pinnacle, a new team emerged as champions — OKC defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7, 103-91, at the Paycom Center on Monday, June 23 (Philippine time).

A hard-fought 2025 MPBL Season matchup at Batangas City Coliseum turned troubling after a violent incident on Monday night, August 11.Gensan’s Michole Sorela threw a punch at Mindoro’s Jonas Tibayan at the 7:34 mark, knocking him unconscious. Tibayan suffered a broken jaw, a busted lip, and a fractured shoulder after hitting the floor hard, and had to be stretchered out.According to Mindoro Tamaraws team owner Pola Mayor Ina Raymundo, Tibayan will be transferred to a Manila hospital for further evaluation.Meanwhile, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) also handed Michole Solera of the Gensan Warriors a lifetime ban and a ₱200,000 fine following a disqualifying foul that left Jonas Tibayan of the Mindoro Tamaraws hospitalized.This strong sanction comes as the league reaffirms its stance on player safety and sportsmanship on the court."We condemn the incident, and the MPBL won't tolerate such actions. It compromises the player's safety and taints the league's image."I've seen the worst (in basketball) and this is one of them. The league has the full authority to impose sanctions on this deplorable behavior," said MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.Despite the incident, Bam Gamalinda paced Mindoro with 21 points and Wendell Comboy added 16, helping the Tamaraws secure the win.We wish Jonas Tibayan a full and speedy recovery.

The Philippines is gearing up for two monumental years in martial arts as it prepares to host back-to-back international wushu tournaments—the World Wushu Championships in 2027 and the Asian Wushu Championships in 2028.The announcement was made by Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP) officials led by President Freddie Jalasco and Secretary-General Julian Camacho during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. Joining them was Carlos Baylon Jr., World Wushu Championships silver medalist and World Games bronze medalist.According to Camacho, the Wushu Federation of Asia proposed that the Philippines host both the world and continental events consecutively—a rare honor and a practical decision for efficiency and impact.“Since we’re already hosting the 2027 World Championships, they suggested we also stage the 2028 Asian Championships,” Camacho shared. “It’s back-to-back, and since we’ll already have the equipment like the taolu carpet, sanda ring, and scoring machines, it’s efficient to use them again within a short span.”A World-Stage OpportunityJalasco revealed that the federation is eyeing a ₱500-million budget to successfully mount the World Championships, which is expected to draw around 80 countries and over 2,000 athletes competing in both taolu (forms) and sanda (sparring) disciplines.The SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex is being considered as the main venue. Preparations are set to begin early next year, with Jalasco emphasizing the magnitude of the event.Originally, the Philippines was slated to host the World Championships in 2029, with Macau set for 2027. But in a friendly exchange, Camacho and Macau officials agreed to swap hosting duties, fast-tracking the country’s turn on the global stage.Baylon Ready to Deliver for the Home CrowdFor Carlos Baylon Jr., the opportunity to compete in front of Filipino fans is both an honor and a challenge. “We’ll do our best in training to win gold,” said Baylon, who competes in the men’s sanda 56kg division. “There’s pressure because we’re the hosts, but we’ll show other countries that we’re strong.”The dual hosting underscores the Philippines’ growing stature in the global wushu community—a testament to the sport’s steady development in the country and the federation’s commitment to excellence.As Camacho and Jalasco look to elevate Philippine wushu to new heights, 2027 and 2028 promise to be landmark years—not only for the sport but for the nation’s continuing legacy in international martial arts.

Two visually impaired athletes from the National Capital Region (NCR) and Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) emerged victorious in the girls’ and boys’ categories secondary division of para athletics long jump competition.Alyana Casano Nuñez, a 20-year-old from NCR, clinched the top spot in the long jump girl’s event. Nuñez lost her sight because of glaucoma when she was 18.Despite her diagnosis, Alyana refused to let her disability hold her back. Instead, she channeled her energy into athletics, discovering a newfound sense of purpose in sports.“I hope to those who are blind like me, do not underestimate yourself because we give ourselves honor,” Nuñez said in an interview with Rappler.Meanwhile, 19-year-old Edmar Artillo from Eastern Visayas also triumphed in the para athletics long jump boys’ event.The Ormoc City native’s journey to the Palarong Pambansa was not without its challenges. He underwent rigorous training, pushing his physical limits with the guidance of his coach and teacher.“Those who have disabilities, don’t be afraid to come out and show your talents, don’t be afraid, don’t be ashamed to show yourself,” Artillo shared.The para games competitions are being held simultaneously with the Palarong Pambansa 2024.

National University showcased its championship poised by fending off Far Eastern University in Game 1 of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals best-of-three finals on Monday, July 15, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The Lady Bulldogs recovered from a blip in the fourth set to claim a hard-earned win, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13, over the Lady Tamaraws.Player of the game Bella Belen exploded with 26 points on 24 attacks and two blocks. Arah Panique provided support by chipping in 15 markers, while Erin Pangilinan scored 14 and Myrtle Escanlar contributed 13 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs to victory.FEU carried the momentum of their dominating fourth set to take a 7-5 lead in the fifth frame but Belen and Pangilinan sparked a 4-0 counterattack to push NU in front.The Lady Tamaraws knotted the count at 12, only for Mata to score two straight points to put the Lady Bulldogs at match point. An attack error by Belen from a backrow hit kept FEU alive, but Escanlar took care of business the next rally with a soft touch.Jean Asis had 23 points to pace the Lady Tamaraws. Chenie Tagaod had 19 points, while Gerzel Petallo and Jazzlyn Ellarina posted 11 and 10 markers, respectively.The Lady Bulldogs look to seal the series and take the championship, while Tamaraws will fight for another day on Tuesday, July 16, at the same venue.

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.

Philippine female gymnasts gave a good account of themselves during the qualification round of the women’s artistic gymnastics in the 2024 Paris Olympics held at the Bercy Arena.Levi Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo, and Aleah Finnegan all had their moments; they all failed to advance to the next round by not entering the top eight of any of the events and falling short of making it to top 24 in the all-around.Jung-Ruivivar and Malabuyo both totaled 51.099 points in the all-around, while Finnegan tallied 50.498.Jung-Ruivivar, the youngest member of Team Philippines at 18 years old and who recently anaphylactic shock caused by her allergies just days before the competition, posted 13.600 in vault, 13.200 in uneven bars, 12.433 in floor exercise, and 11.866 in balance beam.On the other hand, Malabuyo netted 13.266 points in vault, 13.100 in floor exercise, 12.500 in uneven bars, and 12.233 in balance beam, while Finnegan averaged 13.387 in vault and scored 12.733 in floor exercise, 12.566 in uneven bars, and 11.466 in balance beam.Despite being eliminated early, the trio still showed gallant effort and made history for the country as the Philippines waited for 60 years for a female gymnast to see action in the Olympics once again. Maria Luisa Flora and Evelyn Magluyan represented the Philippine team in the 1964 Tokyo Games.With the three booted out of the competition already, the task of winning the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in gymnastics fell on the shoulders of Carlos Yulo, who advanced to the men’s all-around, floor exercise and vault finals.The debuting trio however are still optimistic to do better in their craft and look forward to another Olympic stint in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.

Alas Pilipinas Men is preparing for a significant two-week training in Italy as part of their preparations ahead of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni braces for a tough campaign for the men’s national volleyball team as the world No. 64 Alas Pilipinas was automatically grouped in Pool A, attempting to score an upset as they battle with Asian championship runner-up world Iran, 11-time African Championship titleist Tunisia, and reigning African champion Egypt slated September 12-28 next year.

Adamson University ended the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Basketball Tournament, securing a solo third place following a 63-51 win against University of the East on Sunday, October 6, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.The Lady Falcons delivered a stellar performance for their Season 87 campaign, closing out the first round with a 5-2 record. The last time they achieved this much success was when they finished third place after losing against De La Salle University back in Season 75 in 2012.“I’m very happy with how the first round went for us. It’s all about the effort of the players. On our part, we’ll just guide them,” said Lady Falcons head coach Ryan Monteclaro.The third quarter became a challenge for the Lady Falcons as they had to weather UE’s charges. The Lady Warriors kicked off the second half with a 16-6 run fueled with Ivy Yanez’s eight-point surge to cut the deficit to 47-37.However, Adamson was able to quickly regain their composure with nine unanswered points in the final period as their lead ballooned to 56-37 advantage eventually sealing the game to secure their fifth win of the season. Monteclaro fielded all of 16 of his players, with 13 of them getting on the scoresheet.Kim Limbago tallied 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting with three assists, two rebounds, and one steal for the Lady Falcons. Kim Adeshina supplemented seven markers, 11 boards, three blocks, one deflection, and one dime, while Angela Alaba contributed seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.Yanez led the Lady Warriors with 16 markers, six boards, three dimes, and one block, while Katherine Ruiz and Aliyah Ronquillo supplied 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort.

Tachiana Mangin became the first Filipina world champion after dominating the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea.The 16-year-old Filipina jin conquered local bet Kim Hyang-gi in the final of the women’s 49-kilogram category. Mangin secured the gold after three rounds of sparring via a 14-8, 3-4, 7-6 decision.Mangin is the first Filipino female world titlist of the tournament and the second Filipino athlete since Alex Borromeo triumphed in the 47-kilogram class in the first edition of the competition in 1996 held in Barcelona, Spain. 

Seeing the performance of his former players’ makes Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao happy after Game 3 against TNT last Sunday night, October 13, in Dasmariñas, Cavite.Even though Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, and Paul Erram were considered by Guiao as problems in Game 3 because of the tight defense they showed, he’s still thankful that the Elasto Painters got the narrow 110-109 win over the Tropang Giga.

TNT narrowly defeated Rain or Shine, 81-79, to have a commanding 3-1 lead in their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semi-finals series.Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made the final basket of the game with a slam dunk with 37.3 seconds remaining on the game clock.Hollis-Jefferson also led TNT with his 23 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and five blocks.

June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beermen added another accolade in his collection when he received his unprecedented 11th Best of the Conference Plum, while TNT Tropang Giga's reinforcement Rondae-Hollis Jefferson was once again named Best import.The awards were given before Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra and TNT Tropang Giga.Fajardo became the first player in PBA history to win the BIC award 11 times, making it the most in the league.The eight-time MVP surpassed his teammate CJay Perez, Ginebra stars Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson. He also topped Alvin Tolentino of Northport and Robert Bolick of NLEX to win the individual recognition. 'The Kraken' collected a total of 980 points (465 statistical points, 476 media votes, and 48 player votes), while Aguilar had 664 and Thompson 465.According to Fajardo, he didn't expect that he would win another recognition but he's thankful for the blessings that he received.

The debuts of Alas Pilipinas standouts Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel, as well as the return of Rachel Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga, as likely to add to the excitement surrounding the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, which kicks off on Saturday, November 9, at the Philsports Arena.After being selected first by ZUS Coffee in the league’s historic rookie draft earlier this year, Gagate will finally be able to play as a professional, while Coronel, the third overall pick, will also make her professional debut with Galeries Tower. Due to their national team obligations, Gagate and Coronel missed the league’s first two conferences this season.

Chezka Centeno surrendered her World 10-Ball women’s title in the semifinals of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World 10-Ball Women’s Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Centeno fell 0-2 behind familiar South Korean opponent Seo Seoa on Saturday, November 16, in the round of four, triumphed in the third frame but was outplayed again 1-4 in the succeeding match.Seo then lost 1-4, 4-3, 3-4, 4-3, 4-0 to eventual champion Kristina Tkach of Russia, ultimately settling for second place.

Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma defeated Lithuanian Grandmaster Maxin Novik to win his third consecutive win after the fourth period of the 32nd World Senior Chess Championship at Hotel Baleira in Porto Santo Island, Portugal.The 60-year-old Garma used his extensive knowledge of the white pieces to defeat the Lithuanian GM in 34 moves of the Sicilian Defense. "It was a tough match playing against the famous Sicilian Defense. I defended it well," said Garma, whose rank climbed from 6th to 14th place.