Filipina golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina turned in strong performances at the Standard Portland Classic, finishing tied for 35th and 38th, respectively, on Sunday, August 17.Pagdanganan endured a roller-coaster final round with a one-under 71, highlighted by an eagle, three birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey. She closed at eight-under 280—her fourth made cut of the season.Ardina saved her best for last, firing a flawless, bogey-free 67 to finish one shot behind Pagdanganan at seven-under 281. The performance also marked her first made cut of the 2025 season.Despite their solid efforts, both Filipinas finished well behind Japanese rookie Akie Iwai, who dominated with a 24-under 264 total. Iwai capped her week with a sizzling eight-under 64 to win by four shots over American Gurleen Kaur (268).For Pagdanganan and Ardina, the Portland Classic served as a promising step forward as they continued to chase higher finishes and greater consistency on the LPGA Tour.

Half Court Group earned a coveted slot in the FIBA 3x3 Manila Challenger this September after an impressive showing in the Pilipinas United 3x3 League (PUL) men’s division over the weekend.Despite falling to Kuala Lumpur, 21-15, in the title game, the Filipino squad emerged as the top local finisher out of 12 teams, booking their place in the Manila Challenger.Playing shorthanded in the finals after key import Adeshokan Odou went down with a knee injury in the semis, veteran Chester Saldua led the charge with nine points.However, Kuala Lumpur’s Ting Chun Hong sealed the championship with a clutch putback, earning the Malaysian a slot in the FIBA 3x3 Kaohsiung Challenger in October.Half Court Group’s resilience was on display as they ousted Taho Story A, 21-14, in the quarters and survived Solaris, 20-17, in the semis. On the other hand, Kuala Lumpur stunned Taho Story B, 21-18, in the semis after dispatching SBB, 21-16, in the quarters.With their Manila Challenger berth secured, the Half Court Group now looks to regroup and recover, ready to take on international 3x3 competition on home soil. 

The UAAP’s 88th season officially came alive on September 19 with a vibrant opening ceremony at the University of Santo Tomas Grandstand and Open Field, ushering in a new chapter of collegiate sports tradition and pride.Athletes, students, alumni, and supporters from all eight member schools gathered in a spirited show of unity, painting the venue in school colors and cheers that reflected the league’s enduring passion and energy.As this year’s host, UST rolled out its world-class facilities to welcome the league, emphasizing the university’s deep sporting legacy and commitment to excellence.Carrying the theme “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” UAAP Season 88 aims to highlight not only athletic brilliance but also the values of camaraderie, perseverance, and resilience that continue to define the country’s premier collegiate league.With the stage now set, fans can look forward to another season of unforgettable rivalries, inspiring performances, and stories of triumph that transcend the playing field.

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.

Iloilo prospect Charles Daniel Turla snapped the athletics boys’ elementary javelin throw record with a stunning 60.26 meter throw in his Palarong Pambansa debut.In just his third throw, the incoming Grade 7 athlete easily smashed the event’s eight-year-old record of 57.50 meter set by Jerick Mendoza of CALABARZON.Turla will try to build on his hot streak as he competes next in the boys elementary shot put competition on Saturday, July 13.

Kyle Nathan Fabian and Lediviere Joy Hebron captured six gold medals on the first day of the 2024 Palarong Pambansa games at GMall Atrium on Thursday, July 11.The Zamboanga Peninsula dancesport duo dominated the Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep and the 5-Dance categories.“It is our first time at the Palaro, and winning gold is an incredible feeling,” Fabian told the Manila Times in an interview.Hebron shared that their journey to the Palarong Pambansa was marked by rigorous training.“We trained five times a week,” she said.The pair made history as the first-ever dancesport medalists of the Palarong Pambansa in the juvenile or elementary category, a significant milestone for Region IX and their school, Montessori De Zamboanga.This year marks the debut of dancesport as a regular medal event in the Palarong Pambansa, making it one of the most anticipated competitions at the annual multi-sport event.

The Philippine Sports Commission has begun the preparations for the 11th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games scheduled in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on December 1 to 5.The tournament aims to foster excellence and camaraderie in sports among young people in the sub-region.PSC commissioner Walter Torres on Thursday, July 18, assured the successful production of the games, which features athletics, archery, badminton, karate, swimming, sepak takraw, pencak silat, and e-sports.City Tourism Department (CTD) chief Demetrio Alvior Jr. said representatives from BIMP-EAGA visited the country last May to discuss the friendship games, as there are specific requirements that need to be met, particularly because most of the attendees will be Muslims.One of the requirements is halal certification, which Puerto Princesa City and Palawan currently do not have. However, according to Alvior, they are already taking measures to address this issue before the friendship games.“The only challenging part for us is accommodating those coming from Muslim countries since we don’t have a large halal restaurant here. However, we already have strategies in place to address this,”said Alvior.The CTD chief also mentioned that the federation handling the event initially wanted all food to be halal and uniformly served to all Muslim delegates, regardless of the hotel they are staying.“This is a significant and somewhat delicate event, but it is also a test to see if we are serious about advancing in sports. We need to participate in these major events to identify what we still lack and what needs improvement,” he added.Puerto Princesa City will host the BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games for the second time. The first was in 2003.Brunei Darussalam’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan played host in the last edition of the games. 

In what appeared to be one of the most consequential State of the Nation Addresses or SONAs in recent memory, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., spared one minute of his SONA time to discuss vague plans about his administration’s thrust into sports.For, in a speech loaded with the banning of offshore gaming operations, an affirmation of Philippine territory, and the traditional promises and accomplishments - Bongbong’s third SONA allocated all but a minute for the Philippine sporting world.

Earmarked as the heir apparent to the sole Philippine Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, Vanessa Sarno has definitely big shoes to fill in her first Olympic Games.The 20-year-old weightlifting prodigy guaranteed her spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics after flashing a remarkable performance in the women’s 71-kilogram category at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup held in Phuket, Thailand, last April.Sarno solidified her Olympic aspirations by shattering her previous record in the snatch with 110 kg and cleared 135 kg in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 245 kg to finish fifth in the tournament that served as the last qualifying event for Olympic weightlifting.The Bohol native has been anointed as the predecessor to Tokyo gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz after beating and surpassing record marks at the regional and global levels.Sarno made history after her smashing debut in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. She single-handedly ruled the -71 kg class with a performance for the ages, lifting 104 kg for the snatch and 135 kg in the clean and jerk, registering a total of 239 kilograms, which was tallied as a new SEA Games and Philippine record.In her much-awaited debut at the Paris Olympics, Sarno is looking to replicate her previous successes and deliver a medal for the Philippines.Now ranked No. 5 in the world, Sarno may be one of the favorites to win a medal, but getting a podium finish in her first trip to the Olympics will be easier said than done as she will be facing a tough field bannered by the likes of world champions Loredana Toma of Romania and Neama Said of Egypt, as well as Tokyo Games bronze medalist Chen Wen-huei of Chinese Taipei.Fans will be able to watch Sarno compete on August 10 on the Smart Livestream App.

As the PBA nears its 50th Season, the league targets to become the best sports entertainment not only in the country but also in Asia.Asia's first play-for-pay league is the most followed sport in the land, and the PBA wants to keep that status, and now looks forward to improving the brand by making the games more exciting and giving in-venue fans an experience that they will never forget.The PBA wants the crowd to be back in the playing venue even though the league is still the most dominant when it comes to TV ratings.In the recently-concluded annual planning session of the PBA board of governors, they established pillars on how to attain their goal of showcasing the league to global fans and make it as the No. 1 basketball entertainment league in Asia.However, chairman Ricky Vargas said that “the challenge is how to execute it.”The ideas include improving the quality and competitiveness of play, re-establishing the league as the source of best talent for the national team and net exporter of players in Asia. They also want to focus on fan engagement by investing in supplementary business like the construction of an own arena and expanding in CSR (corporate social responsibility) programs.In addition to making the game more exciting, PBA will introduce a new set of rules in the coming season highlighted by the implementation of the “four-point shot” from beyond a 27-foot arc.Newly-elected vice chairman Alfranchis Chua said in Filipino, “We have done this in the All-Star Game. With this rule, the zone defense will be lessened, man-to-man will be seen more and the game will be faster.”The PBA will continue to support the national team program and will embrace the thought that a strong Gilas team will be beneficial to the league and vice versa.They will also have programs for the fans where they can mingle, interact and engage with their favorite players. Chua said, “Like those in the upper box, they paid a pricey ticket when they entered the venue and all they got to do was wave to the player. I will tell the coaches that they allow players to go near the fans.” 

Serbian gaming organization Aurora Gaming has formally entered the MLBB scene through the reveal of its powerhouse MPL Philippines roster Saturday night.The team is composed of powerhouse veterans, all of which have had significant experience in and out of the Land of Dawn.Leading the pack are ex-Blacklist International stalwarts Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap, Kenneth Carl “Yue” Tadeo, and Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse.RSG Philippines’ former star jungler Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto, TNC Pro Team stalwart Ben “Benthings” Maglaque, and Minana EVOS’ Jan Dominic “Domeng” del Mundo have also joined the team.At the coaching team of Aurora’s star-studded lineup are ex-Blacklist coaches Aniel “Master The Basics” Jiandani, supported by assistant coach Dexter Louise “Dex Star” Alaba.And guiding the team as Esports and Gaming Content Directors are MPL legends Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” del Rosario.Aurora Gaming says their focus on the team would focus on ambassadorship, quelling rumors of a return for both OhMyV33nus and Wise to competitive MLBB.

Team USA dominated the South Sudan Bright Stars 103-86 in the group phase of the Olympics men’s basketball on Wednesday, July 31 at the Pierre Mauro Stadium in Paris, France.There was no repeat of their pre-Olympic game where South Sudan almost made an upset against the Americans as the game ended at 101-100. Team USA had to overcome a 16-point deficit, with LeBron James scoring the game winning lay-up.The Americans showed their might this time as they started the game with a 6-0 run and never looked back until the end to secure their quarterfinals ticket in the Paris Games.Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo led the Americans in scoring with 18 points, 14 of which came from the first half of play. He also grabbed seven rebounds, swatted two shots, dished off one assist and tallied one steal.Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker and Derick While all finished in double figures in scoring too.It was also the return of Jayson Tatum in the starting line-up after not playing a single minute in their opening game against Serbia.On the other hand, Noni Omot led South Sudan with 24 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Carlik Jones added 18 markers, seven dimes, three boards and one steal.Team USA will still be facing Puerto Rico on August 3 to cap off their group stage assignment while the Bright Stars will face Serbia in a must win situation to advance to the next round.

Aira Villegas gifts herself with the best possible present on her 29th birthday as she advances to the women’s 50kg quarterfinals in the Paris Olympics early Friday, August 2 (Manila time).The Filipina boxer stunned the No. 2 seeded Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria when she showcased her quick movement and counterpunching.Villegas repeatedly backed off her Algerian foe with her stinging left jabs and quick combinations, enabling her to get all of the five judges’ nod in the first round. While the next two frames were closer, it was Villegas’ clean blows that spelled the difference.It was the second straight unanimous decision win for Villegas, who has been impressive so far in her Olympic debut. She gave the Philippine boxing team a winning start in the Paris Olympics on Monday, July 29, with a victory over Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco.The 29-year-old’s win set up a date with home bet and seventh seed Wassila Lkhadiri of France as they duel for a spot in the semifinals on Sunday, August 4 (Manila time).Villegas joins Tokyo silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam among the Filipino boxers who remain in the medal contention. 

Germany overcame their slow start to beat Greece 76-63 in their quarter-finals match-up and be the first one to enter the final four in the Olympics Men’s Basketball Tournament on Tuesday, August 6 (Manila Time).Franz Wagner led the German team in scoring with 18 points while Dennis Schroeder chipped in 13 points and 8 assists. The recent World Cup champions improved their record to 4-0 in the tournament.At the beginning of the game at the Bercy Arena, Germany fell behind 10-2 at the start and trailed much of the opening half.But a Schroder three-pointer after the break gave the Germans the momentum to control the game and took a 59-52 advantage coming into the final frame where they finished off their opponent.With the win, Germany men’s basketball team has entered the Olympics semi-finals for the first time in history.

After crashing out of the W100 Landisville quarterfinals, Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala bounced back from her loss rather quickly after outplaying Julia Riera of Argentina in the first round of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W100 Tournament in Cary, North Carolina on Monday, August 12.At the women’s singles Round of 32, the 147th ranked Eala overpowered the world No. 119 and eighth seeded Riera, 6-3, 6-1, in a 58-minutes match to move to the Round of 16.The 19-year-old Eala was fresh off a loss from the 2024 Kewer Jewelers Tennis Challenge in Landisville, Pennsylvania over the weekend, losing to Olivia Galecki of Australia in the quarterfinals, 6-1, 0-6, 6-3.Eala is either going to face Hina Inoue of the United States or her former doubles partner Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia in the next round. The tournament serves as Eala’s final build up for the US Open Qualifiers set August 20 to 24 in New York.

Far Eastern University has announced the return of Tina Salak as the head coach of the Lady Tamaraws for the upcoming UAAP Season 87.The development, made on Wednesday, August 14, marks Salak’s reassumption of the role after she stepped down as FEU’s main tactician in June last year due to her plans of migrating to the US.

Two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo is planning to reconnect with his former coach Munehiro Kugimiya after his successful competition in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Kugimiya helped Yulo to develop his gymnastic skills from 2016 up to 2023. Yulo wants to pay respect and express his gratitude to ‘Coach Mune’.He wouldn’t be the same magnificent figure that he is now without the important person that molded him to what he is today. The Gymnast Association of The Philippines (GAP) head Cynthia Carrion  said that Yulo will visit Kugimiya in November. 

Gymnast Association of the Philippines (GAP) chief Cynthia Carrion is planning to form an Olympic team that the Philippines will send to the LA Olympics in 2028 with the sibling of two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo hopefully being included in the team. Carrion made a forecast and hoping that two Yulos’ will compete in the LA Olympics in 2028. She is referring to the 16 year-old younger brother of Caloy, Karl Eldrew, who has shown the same determination and promise that his elder brother showed on his sporting success. Karl Eldrew is now making his own name in the world of gymnastics and has already bagged gold medals from different international competitions.Eldrew, won a gold medal in the junior level of the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as he reigned supreme in the vault last May of this year. He posted an average of 14.433 points, Yulo ruled the event for his first title in the continental showpiece after settling for silver in the previous edition in Singapore.

Filipina pole vaulter Riezel Buenaventura claimed a silver medal in women’s pole vault (35-39) of the World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.Buenaventura registered a height of 3.13 meters behind the 3.45 meter of her German rival.This is the country’s second medal after the silver of Danilo Fresnido in the javelin throw event. Meanwhile, master athletes Judith Staples and Drolly Claravall will be seeing action in the women’s discus throw, while Benigno Marayag will compete in the men’s long jump on Monday, August 19.

Capital1 ended the preliminaries of the 2024 Premier League Volleyball (PVL) Reinforced Conference on a high note after drubbing Galeries Towerson Tuesday, August 20, at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.The Solar Spikers morphed into a legitimate contender in the PVL after winning against the Highrisers in four sets, 25-13, 26-28, 25-22, 25-21.