San Miguel took Game 1 of their best-of-five quarter finals series against Converge FiberXers, 102-95 on Thursday night, September 26, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.Beermen new import EJ Asonike, in lieu of the injured Jordan Adams, showed a decent debut performance by producing 28 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

Magnolia recovered from a disappointing start to dominate Game 4 of their quarter final series against Rain or Shine on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to force a knockout game on Saturday, October 5.The Hotshots relied on their four-point shooting to extend their campaign in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup as they recorded a 129-100 win after.Paul Lee, in the most opportune time played his best game of the series to lead the team in saving their tournament lives. The ‘Leethal weapon” produced 25 points highlighted by a 3-of-4 four-pointers.Jabari Bird as usual delivered a quiet but effective offensive prowess for Magnolia as he led them in scoring with 30 markers.Jerrick Ahanmisi also helped in the scoring parade by contributing 14, including two 4-pointers to move out of a tie with Blackwater’s import George King (17) as the No. 1 in most four-pointers made in the PBA. His two conversions gave him the 18th and 19th of his career.Veterans Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang also produced double-digit scoring for the Hotshots as they contributed 10 apiece. Calvin Abueva, Aris Dionisio and Rome Dela Rosa also helped in their offensive thrust as they tallied nine markers each.

Petro Gazz overpowered Akari in straight sets, 28-26, 29-27, 25-18, to claim its third win in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, December 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Brooke van Sickle and Myla Pablo joined forces to edge the Chargers with the Filipino-American hitter hammering 19 points built on 15 attacks including 13 excellent digs, while Pablo added 15 markers off 13 kills, a block, and an ace.Van Sickle gave captain Remy Palma credit for the victory, stating that her leadership helped Petro Gazz get through the tense first few sets and win the straight-setter.“Coming off our rest, we haven’t played in a while so to be able to come out and stay focused in those tight matches was awesome,” said Van Sickle.“I’m super proud of everyone, I feel like Rem [Palma] did a very good job collecting all the girls while we’re on the court and just to slow us down because I feel like at times we we’re like ‘ahhh’ and she’s like ‘calm down, it’s okay, take a breath and just play our volleyball,’” added the reigning conference MVP.

Chery Tiggo bounced back to the winning column after overpowering Galeries Tower in a five-set thriller, 30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-8, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference over the weekend at Philsports Arena.The team led by Norman Miguel improved to a 4-2 win-loss record, while Galeries finished the year with a 1-5 record after losing in five sets for the seventh time in 15 conference losses."It was a real effort from everyone. During the first three sets, it was like that, our moves weren't right, it seemed clumsy. But it came out in the fourth set," said Chery Tiggo’s ace Cess Robles during the postgame interview.The Crossovers’ victory was bannered by Robles, who registered a game-high 21 points anchored on 20 attacks and an ace along with 11 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.Captain Aby Maraño contributed a 15-point output, while Pauline Gaston, who assisted the team clinch the fourth set, scored a total of 14 markers.Jen Nierva took care of Chery Tiggo’s defense with 21 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions as Jas Nabor orchestrated the team’s play, tossing 13 excellent sets.Gaston’s several attack points helped the Crossovers rally to a 9-2 run from 16-14 deficit in Set 4, tying the match at two sets apiece.

The Converge FiberXers tallied their fourth straight victory after defeating the Meralco Bolts, 110-94, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, December 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Jordan Heading led Converge with his 30 points, five rebounds, and eight assists to notch their fourth straight win in the conference and improve their record to 6-2.“I try to approach this game like I approach every game, which is part of being a professional: You have a routine and you try to stick to your routine every single game. Obviously, there’s a little excitement but I’m used to it for as long as I can remember,” said Heading.The FiberXers even erected a 20-point margin, 94-74, with less than eight minutes left in the game, but the Bolts trimmed the lead to 102-88 with 2:57 left on the clock.However, Converge never looked back and secured the win with consecutive baskets from import Cheick Diallo, and big man Justin Arana.

Denice Zamboanga has officially relinquished the ONE Women's Atomweight MMA World Championship after welcoming her first child with husband Fritz Biagtan.In a social media post on Tuesday, the reigning champion announced her decision to vacate the title, citing her desire to focus on motherhood while allowing other athletes in the division the opportunity to compete for the championship.Known as “The Menace,” Zamboanga became the first Filipina MMA world champion and said the decision came after careful prayer and reflection.She acknowledged that stepping away from the throne was not easy but emphasized that it was the right choice for this chapter of her life and for the contenders pursuing their dreams in the division.Zamboanga’s decision marks the end of a historic reign, as she shifts her focus from defending a world title to embracing a new role as a mother while leaving a lasting legacy in Philippine mixed martial arts.

The Alas Pilipinas Boys found Iran a tough nut to crack, falling 17-25, 20-25, 13-25 on the opening day of the 2026 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Boys’ U18 Volleyball Championship at the Wuyuan River Gymnasium in Haikou, China.Iran asserted its dominance early in the opening set with 21 attack points, while the Alas Boys managed only eight.The nationals came alive in the second set, tying the score at 19-19 behind the efforts of Djomari Gamotea, Raphael Galapin, and Elijah Marticion.However, Iran responded with a 6-1 run sparked by middle blockers Heydari Sefat Pedram and Chodorarkhoei Aydin and never looked back, securing the straight-set victory in one hour and five minutes.“We just fell short despite tying the score at 19-19 in the second set,” head coach Oliver Balse said. “We need to work on our defense.”Marticion led Alas Pilipinas with eight points on seven attacks and one block, while Galapin and Ar-Raquib Dais added five points each.Nima Piri and Abolfazl Pashaamiri chipped in 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Iran.“We’ll keep working and fighting to get better,” Balse said. “The skills are there; it’s a matter of bringing them out.,” he added.The Philippine team—organized under the supervision of the Philippine Olympic Committee and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission—faces Bahrain at 1 p.m. on Monday, while Iran aims to improve to 2-0 against India at 10 a.m.

There was a time when Philippine weightlifting was defined by a single name. Today, the sport tells a much bigger story.As the country sends a 13-athlete delegation to the 2026 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Philippine weightlifting continues to demonstrate that its success extends far beyond one generation. The emergence of young stars Albert Ian Delos Santos, Alexsandra Ann Diaz, Jhodie Peralta, and several other rising lifters reflects a program steadily producing athletes capable of competing—and winning—on the international stage.The team's campaign comes with high expectations, and for good reason.Delos Santos enters the continental championships as one of the country's brightest prospects after capturing the gold medal in the 71-kilogram division at the IWF Junior World Championships in Egypt earlier this year. His campaign was highlighted by a world-record performance in the clean and jerk, cementing his status among the world's elite junior lifters.Meanwhile, 15-year-old Alexsandra Ann Diaz continues to establish herself as one of the sport's fastest-rising stars. Fresh from a spectacular performance at the IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Cali, Colombia, Diaz claimed three gold medals while setting two world records in the girls' 48-kilogram division.Although she carries the Diaz surname and is the niece of Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, Alexsandra is steadily proving that her accomplishments belong to her alone. Her rapid rise through the international ranks is the product of discipline, preparation, and consistent excellence on the platform.Another key member of the Philippine contingent is Jhodie Peralta, who continues to build on her own international credentials. Having already earned a silver medal at the world level, Peralta adds further depth to a Philippine squad that is no longer dependent on a handful of standout performers.Perhaps the most encouraging development is the overall strength of the delegation.Instead of relying on one or two elite athletes, the Philippines now boasts a growing pool of young lifters capable of challenging for medals across multiple weight categories. This reflects years of investment in grassroots development, improved coaching, and increased opportunities for international competition.Sustained excellence in any sport is built on continuity. Developing young athletes, exposing them to world-class competition, and providing them with the resources to improve creates a foundation that extends beyond individual success. Philippine weightlifting appears to be following that blueprint.International tournaments such as the Asian Youth and Junior Championships serve as more than medal opportunities. They are vital stepping stones toward future appearances at the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, World Championships, and ultimately the Olympic Games.For many members of this squad, Tashkent represents another opportunity to gain valuable experience while continuing to test themselves against Asia's strongest weightlifting nations.As Philippine weightlifting enters a new era, the narrative has evolved from celebrating a single trailblazer to recognizing an expanding roster of world-class talents. Delos Santos, Diaz, Peralta, and their teammates symbolize a program that is no longer built around one champion but around a sustainable pipeline of elite athletes.The future of Philippine weightlifting is no longer a distant promise—it is already taking shape. With continued support, consistent development, and unwavering belief in the country's young lifters, the Philippines is positioning itself to remain a force in international weightlifting for years to come.If your goal is publication, this version reads like a feature from a national sports section, blending factual reporting with analysis while maintaining a polished journalistic tone.

The National Capital Region emerged as the 2024 Palarong Pambansa champion as it once again proved to be the supreme destination for the Philippines’ top young athletes concluding the event with a collection of 98 gold medals, 66 silvers, and 74 bronzes on Tuesday, July 16, held in Cebu City.Region IV-A (CALABARZON) secured second place with 57 golds, 51 silvers, and 53 bronzes, while Region VI (Western Visayas) placed third overall with 56 golds, 41 silvers, and 41 bronzes.The country’s capital got its haul from gymnasts Elaiza Yulo winning five golds and Maxine Amira Bondoc (5), swimmers Sophia Garra (5), and Alessandra Therese Martin (5), all rising as some of the event’s most bemedalled athletes, while the NCR boys’ secondary basketball team also reclaimed the crown after a fight-marred 86-71 victory against Central Luzon.The closing ceremony was also marked by inspiring stories of athletes who showcased not only their exemplary skills but also their sportsmanship and dedication.Central Visayas runner Asia Paraase and SOCCSKSARGEN walkathon athlete Jerrymae Malinog were honored with the ‘Most Inspiring Story’ award.Paradise, a 17-year-old track star, won two Palaro golds and touched hearts by assisting her competitors after races, demonstrating her sportsmanship and empathy.Meanwhile, Malinog, a Grade 10 working scholar from Kiahe Integrated School in Sarangani, became the first athlete from Blaan Indigenous Cultural Community to represent Region XII.As the Palarong Pambansa 2024 concluded, Ilocos Norte now prepares for the 65th Palarong Pambansa in 2025, as the likes of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon accepted the hosting responsibilities during the closing ceremony.

National University added another diadem in their growing treasure chest by escaping Far Eastern University to capture a finals sweep in the Game 2 of the best-of-three series of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals on Tuesday, July 16, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.Alas Pilipinas stars Bella Belen and Arah Panique carried the Lady Bulldogs’ 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10 conquest before flying to Japan for their national team duties.Panique topscored for the reigning UAAP Season 86 champions with a game-high 27 points on 17 attacks, while Belen sustained her fine form after hammering 23 markers of 25 attacks, while Kaye Bombita added 11 points for the Lady Bulldogs.Gerzel Petallo registered 20 points as FEU’s leading scorer, while Chennie Tagaod produced 18 points in the team’s first runner-up placing.Meanwhile, College of Saint Benilde captured the bronze medal over Colegio de San Juan de Letran in a nerve-wracking five-set victory, 23-25, 25-14, 19-25, 25-20, 17-15.Rhea Densing led the charge for the Lady Blazers with 24 markers, 20 coming off attacks, while Wielyn Estoque chipped in 18 points.Gia Maquilang paced Letran with 22 points highlighted by 19 kills, Nizelle Martin scored 15, while Judiel Nitura and Royce dela Cruz chipped in 10 each.The event concluded with the awarding of attendees.Belen, the reigning UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player, also bagged the tournament MVP and 1st Best Outside Spiker honor.The 2nd Best Outside Spiker was awarded to Wielyn Estoque from St. Benilde. The 1st and 2nd Best Middle Blocker were given to Zamantha Nolasco (St. Benilde) and Jean Asis (FEU), respectively.Marie Nitura from Colegio de San Juan de Letran took home the Best Opposite Spiker, while Shaira Jardio was given the Best Libero title and Camilla Lamina got the Best Setter award, both players hailing from National University.

Filipino Olympic golfer Dottie Ardina took to social media to recall and speak up about the uniform issues and equipment during the Paris Olympics. This, after a video of her raising concerns about the lack of proper uniforms and gears for the Philippine golfers during the Olympic stage became trending and center of controversy. Ardina says that the video was posted by her mother where she aired her frustrations over the lack of proper uniforms and equipment at the Games. She alleged that their official competition shirts from the Philippine Olympic Committee did not arrive and also, the alternatives provided for them did not comply with the rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).“Several boxes of apparel containing competition gear were sent through courier directly to Paris. However, the French customs held the package carrying the competition gear and despite the best efforts made by the officials, the gear was not released in time,” POC said in a statement.Ardina took it upon herself to buy the required apparel for her and her teammate Bianca Pagdanganan. The golf duo ended up using their own plain shirts, and Ardina shared patches with her teammate to match their outfits as best as they could.Despite the incident, Ardina says she has no intention to cause any trouble and told her story in the hope that future athletes will get the gear they need and is required of them - on time and in the proper configurations - in the 2028 LA Olympics. 

Rain or Shine head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao is elated after the Philippine Supreme Court approved his petition for mandamus calling on the country’s gambling regulators to distribute funds to the country’s sports commission.At the heels of the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association or PSA Forum in Manila, the former Pampanga solon, who is once again leading tactics for the Elasto Painters in the PBA, says he is expecting that the move will generate much-needed funding for the country’s sports programs.

Para swimmer Ernie Gawilan posted his third-fastest time in the heats to advance in the final of the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 in the 17th Paralympic Games.Gawilan registered a time of 5:00.13 minutes and wound up third overall at the Paris La Defense Arena. A redemption performance two days after he failed to qualify for the medal race of the men’s 200-meter individual medley SM7.

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.

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.

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.

Nesthy Petecio, a two-time Olympic medallist, received a promotion from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after winning a bronze medal in the Paris Olympics.The Filipina pugilist was promoted from Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) to the next higher rank of Petty Officer First Class (PO1).PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan conducted the ceremony at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila, on Monday, December 2.

The Hong Kong Eastern squad will juggle its assignments in three different leagues back in the country to continue their PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup campaign.They are looking forward to getting their third straight win when they face Rain or Shine on Wednesday, December 4, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The Hong Kong-based squad already established their own identity after being compared to the former guest team Bay Area Dragons when they defeated the Phoenix Fuel Masters in their opening game, 102-87, and followed it up with another convincing win against Converge, 117-106.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters clinched their fifth win against Blackwater Bossing, 122-106, in their match last night, January 8, at the Philsports Arena in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.With the win, Elasto Painters now have a 5-1 win-loss record, while Black Water Bossing has a 1-6 win-loss in the team standings.The Elasto Painters immediately took off after posting a 23-point lead, 39-16 in the second quarter, where in the third quarter, Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson scored points, and they were able to extend the lead against Bossing, 87-70 in the last three minutes of the third quarter, until the Elasto Painters did not give up their advantage in the fourth quarter after Thompson scored a goal in the last 1:37 minutes, causing the Elasto Painters to further extend their lead over the opponent, 118-101.Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao admitted that he was worried because his team had almost a three-week break from the holiday break last year, although they did not neglect their practice.“My primary concern at the beginning was how sharp are the guys going to be coming off almost a three-week break. We had good practices, but iba pa rin 'pag makikita mo sa laro,” Guiao said.Guiao also said that at the beginning of the match, they had a difficult time against their opponent, but the team did not allow the victory to slip away from them. He added that what is important for them right now is to advance to the next round of the game, and they need to secure seven wins to secure a spot in the playoffs.“This is our first game in the new year, medyo concerned ako kung paano nila lalaruin 'yung first game namin. Sa amin ang importante makarating ng next round, Ang tingin namin seven wins will assure you of a slot in the playoffs. So we have five wins now,”  Guiao added.Meanwhile, Rain or Shine was led by Deon Thompson, who scored 25 points, while Adrian Nocum, Leonard Santillan, Anton Asistio and Caelan Tiongson each scored 22, 20, 18, and 11 points.On Saturday, January 11, Rain or Shine will again try to win against the Phoenix Fuel Masters, while Black Water Bossing will try to get a win against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, January 12.