Multiple reports have indicated that Allen Durham will once again don the Meralco Bolts jersey after four years as they try to settle their unfinished business in the upcoming PBA 49th Season Governor’s Cup.Durham and the Bolts already entered the conference finals together three times but they always lost to Justin Brownlee and Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel in all of their series.This time, Durham has earned a championship pedigree already when he helped Ryuku capture the B. League crown and even won Finals MVP against the Chiba Jest. On the other hand, Meralco Bolts also won their first ever PBA title in the recently concluded Philippine Cup where they defeated the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen in six games. With AD and the Bolts having the feel of being champions, the season-opening conference will be their best chance to do it as a unit.However, the Bolts hulking 6-foot-6 import will have to go through a mixture of new opponents and familiar foes, including his consistent nemesis Justin Brownlee. 

The De La Salle Green Archers have tapped the services of Fil-Am big man Dominic Sarmiento as its newest center.The ex-Irvine Valley College freshman was announced to be heading to Taft after a US-based Filipino basketball org, Tumakbo United, posted about Sarmiento’s next big move.A report from Tiebreaker Times showed that the 6-foot-8 center played in the States as part of the Orange Empire Conference of the California Community College Athletic Association.Sarmiento played 15 games for the Irvine Valley Lasers in the league’s 2023-2024 season, averaging 1 point and 1 rebound in five minutes of playing time.However, it will take some time before the Archers will tap its newest big man, as Sarmiento will need to fulfill a one-year residency period before he becomes eligible to play starting UAAP Season 88.Sarmiento joins a star-studded transfer class to DLSU, which also includes Mason Amos, Luis Pablo, and Kean Baclaan. (PB)

After a failed attempt some 30 years ago, the province of Agusan del Sur has been named as the host of the Palarong Pambansa 2026.The development was announced following the passing of the Palarong Pambansa flag on to next year’s host.After nearly 60 years, Ilocos Norte is set to host the Palarong Pambansa once again in 2025. Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia passed on the Palarong Pambansa flag to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc during the grand closing ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).Earlier this year, Agusan del Sur submitted its bid to host the event, showcasing the D.O. Plaza Memorial Sports Complex, which boasts of world-class sporting facilities.The highlight of the sports complex is its 3,000-seat grandstand, rubberized track, football field with artificial grass, Olympic-sized swimming pool, air-conditioned courts for volleyball and basketball, and other amenities.Additional facilities include a 24-room hotel located within the main grandstand and a tennis court.The other Mindanao bidders who submitted their proposal to the Palarong Pambansa Board were the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga City.The last time Mindanao hosted the Palarong Pambansa was in 2019 in Davao City.

Around 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials across 17 regions take the spotlight on Monday, July 22, when the 2024 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games kicks off in various venues in Legazpi City.Student-athletes from 400 private schools around the country are expected to showcase their vigor and competence in 27 games composed of eight team sports, 14 individual and dual sports, and five Cultural & Academic Events in the week-long tournament in Albay.A junior year IT student from University of Cebu defied wet surfaces and gloomy weather as he clinched the first-ever gold of the tournament at Bicol University Complex.Mark Mahinay topped the men’s 5,000 meters registering a fast time of 15 minutes and 22.9 seconds to easily beat teammate Franklin Lee (15:53.4) and Ken Jay Moreto (15:55.7) of Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN).The 22-year-old was thrilled for his latest success as he has been longing to become a part of the national team in the future.“I am very happy that I achieved the target time. I am glad that I still performed well despite the heavy rain,” Mahinay said.“I hope I can get in the national team in the future,” he added. “Competitions like this are a good experience for athletes like me who want to improve.”Next off for the Cebuano trackster are 800 meters and 1,500 meters on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.

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.

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.” 

Filipina rower sealed her place in the quarterfinals of the women’s single sculls after finishing first in the repechage round in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.The 26-year-old rower topped her repechage heat with a time of 7:55.00 to ensure that she will finish in the top 24 in her very first Olympic stint.Vietnam’s Thi Hue Pham also qualified for the quarterfinals after she came in second behind Delgaco, finishing the race after 8:00.97. The top two in the heat would advance in the next round of the Olympic rowing competition.Delgaco improved on her performance in the heats, where she recorded 7:56.25 for fourth place as she missed a top 3 finish that guarantees an outright quarterfinal berth.The pride of Iriga, Camarines Sur has yet to show her best form, considering she registered 7:49.39 in the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta, becoming the Philippines’ first female rower to reach the Olympics.Cuba’s Yariulvis Cobas (8:10.64), Nicaragua’s Evidelia Gonzalez (8:26.23), and Togo’s Akoko Komlavi (8:43.11) missed the cut and got relegated to the semifinals E/F.Delgaco will take a one-day break before continuing her historic Summer Games campaign on Tuesday, July 30, for the quarterfinals at the same venue.

Filipina rower sealed her place in the quarterfinals of the women’s single sculls after finishing first in the repechage round in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.The 26-year-old rower topped her repechage heat with a time of 7:55.00 to ensure that she will finish in the top 24 in her very first Olympic stint.Vietnam’s Thi Hue Pham also qualified for the quarterfinals after she came in second behind Delgaco, finishing the race after 8:00.97. The top two in the heat would advance in the next round of the Olympic rowing competition.Delgaco improved on her performance in the heats, where she recorded 7:56.25 for fourth place as she missed a top 3 finish that guarantees an outright quarterfinal berth.The pride of Iriga, Camarines Sur has yet to show her best form, considering she registered 7:49.39 in the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta, becoming the Philippines’ first female rower to reach the Olympics.Cuba’s Yariulvis Cobas (8:10.64), Nicaragua’s Evidelia Gonzalez (8:26.23), and Togo’s Akoko Komlavi (8:43.11) missed the cut and got relegated to the semifinals E/F.Delgaco will take a one-day break before continuing her historic Summer Games campaign on Tuesday, July 30, for the quarterfinals at the same venue.

Nesthy Petecio secured a ticket to the Round of 16 of the Women's Featherweight (57kg) via unanimous decision (5-0) against India's Jaismine Lamboria.Petecio, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist and Philippine female flag-bearer in the Paris Games  showed her might from the very beginning of the match to keep her gold medal dream alive.The Filipina boxer will face France Amina Zidani in the Round of 16 on August 3, 2:00 a.m. PH time.

Swimmer Kayla Sanchez’s quest for a medal in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics came to an end when she failed to advance in the semifinals.Sanchez clocked 54.21 seconds in the second semifinal on Tuesday, July 30, (early Wednesday in Manila) at the Paris La Defense Arena, good for seventh in her group and 15th overall.Earlier in the day, the 23-year-old Filipina made her Olympic debut for the Philippines by delivering an impressive performance after finishing fourth-place in the heats.She registered 53.67 seconds, setting a new national record for the Philippines in the women’s 100m freestyle.Unfortunately, Sanchez missed the top-eight cutoff for the final and became the eighth member of the 22-strong Team Philippines to get eliminated.Gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, fencer Samantha Catantan, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, rower Joanie Degalco, and boxer Eumir Marcial all bowed out of medal contention in their respective events.

Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist is coming to the French capital, not as an athlete, but as a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Athletes’ Commission.Her arrival to the Games was confirmed by the Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Dicky Bachmann on Tuesday, July 30.“She is arriving either on August 3 or August 4,” said Bachmann in a text message, adding that Diaz’s arrival would be a great source of inspiration for other Filipino athletes who are still vying for the Olympic medal, including her fellow weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza and Vanessa Sarno.“Her presence will definitely add much-needed inspiration to all our athletes competing in the Summer Games,” added Bachmann.The Zamboanga native Diaz, who captured the country’s first Olympic gold medal during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, remains a towering figure in Philippine sports as her feat became a shining moment for the nation.Marking a new chapter in her journey to develop future champions, Diaz inaugurated her weightlifting academy, HD Weightlifting Academy, in Jalajala, Rizal on July 26, the third-year anniversary of her golden conquest in the Tokyo games.

Chile’s table tennis player Zeng Zhiying proved that age is just a number by being the country’s representative in the Paris Olympics. She fulfilled the athlete’s dream of playing in the grandest stage at 58 years old.Despite bowing out early in the tournament, Zhiying still shone with her own spotlight because of her grit to finally reach her Olympic dream in a tourney where it’s filled with all sorts of players from different ages and backgrounds.Zeng made her Olympic debut on Saturday but fell short in the preliminary round where she lost to Lebanon’s Mariana Sahakian, 1-4.Before Zeng’s match, she made sure to thank her father and brother for the support they have given throughout her journey.

Capital1’s Russian reinforcement, Marina Tushova, reset the Premier Volleyball League record books by scoring 45, powering her team past Choco Mucho in a thrilling five-set encounter at the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) on Thursday, August 1, at the PhilSports Arena.Tushova’s 45-point explosion surpassed the previous record of 44 points set by Dominica Priscilla Rivera of Akari during the 2022 Reinforced Conference.The Russian outside hitter poured 43 kills, one block, and an ace to complete the Solars Spikers come-from-behind victory that set their best start in the league so far with a 2-2 record in Pool B.Tushova also hard-carried the defensive side of the ball in the win with 18 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs as middle blocker Des Clemente tallied seven points off four blocks, while Julia Ipac scored six.On the other hand, Choco Mucho’s Greek import, Zoi Faki, scored a conference-best 28 in the losing cause as the Flying Titans sank to a 1-3 slate in Pool B.Dindin Santiago-Manabat contributed 16 points with 12 attacks, two blocks, and two aces, while Maddie Madayag and Royse Tubino added eight markers apiece.Capital1 will look to sustain its momentum when they face ZUS Coffee, while Choco Mucho will aim to recover when they face Petro Gazz on Tuesday, August 6, at the same venue. 

The pairing for the 2024 Paris Olympics Men’s Basketball Tournament is already set and will take place on Tuesday, August 6 (local time in France).FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 champions Germany will be the one to start the quarters against Greece to be followed by Serbia against Australia.The third game will feature the host country France against Canada and the fourth match-up will be Brazil against the powerhouse Team USA.The Knockout Semi-Final stage will be on August 8. The winner of the Germany versus Greece will face the winner of the Canada-France battle while the winner of the Serbia-Australia match-up will face the winner of the Brazil versus USA game.The Finals and battle for bronze will be on August 9 to cap off the men’s basketball tournament.

Serbia banked on Nikola Jokic in overtime to eliminate Australia 95-90 and book a ticket to the Olympics men’s basketball tournament semifinals held at the Bercy Arena in Paris on Tuesday, August 6 (Manila Time).In the first half of play, the Serbians trailed by as much as 24 points but surged back in the second half to have a toe-to-toe game against Australia.Serbia almost took the game in regulation but Patty Mills, with two seconds left in the game clock made his fade-away jumper to tie the game at 82 and forced the game into overtime.Jokic hit the go-ahead basket with a minute and seven seconds remaining in overtime before hitting his signature fadeaway shot over the outstretched arm of Duop Reath with 25 seconds left in the extension.The Boomers had a chance to equalize or just trim the lead to one but Josh Giddey made an inbound error that led to two free throws for Bogdan Bogdanovic that eventually sealed the game.Nikola Jokic led the way for Serbia with his almost triple-double performance tallying 21 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, dishing off nine assists and having four steals while Patty Mills led the Boomers with 26 points.Serbia is now waiting for the winner of the USA-Brazil match-up for their semi-finals battle.

When pain struck in the midst of his Olympic debut, weightlifter John Ceniza was not able to continue his fight for the country because of a shoulder injury that took control over him. With this, Ceniza failed to make a lift in the snatch portion during Wednesday’s competition at the South Paris Arena. The 26 year-old  broke into tears because he failed thrice to lift 125 kg. in the men's 61 kg division and was officially marked a DNF (Did not Finish) in the event. Ceniza was the first to bow out in the 12 man competition.  According to Ceniza, it's hard on his part to compete when you haven't recovered yet. “Mahirap. Sa injury ko eh. Tatak kasi sa utak na may injury ka. Mahirap i-compete na 'di ka pa nakarecover, (It’s hard. With my injury. It goes to my mind that I have an injury. It’s hard to compete when you are not yet fully recovered),” Ceniza said.Still, the 26 year old weightlifter fought for the Philippine flag. “Pero nag-compete ako dahil sa Pilipinas. Lumalaban pa rin ako kahit may injury ako. Lumalaban pa rin ako para sa Pilipinas (But I still compete because it’s for the Philippines. I still compete even though I have an injury. I am fighting for the Philippines),” Ceniza added.Even though his mind wanted him to lift and attain the winning moment but Ceniza’s body betrayed him. Despite the loss in his Olympic debut this year, he vows to redeem himself in the L.A Olympic Games in 2028. Ceniza did not forget to give  thanks and made an apology to all the Filipinos who supported him despite his failure in the Olympics.

Filipina golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina made significant strides in the second of four rounds in the Paris Olympics women’s individual stroke play at the Le Golf National on Thursday, August 8.Pagdanganan put up her best performance yet in Paris 2024 after firing a 3-under 69 to climb seven spots after ending the first round with a par 72. She brushed off two two bogeys in the first four holes and went on to earn four birdies, including three in the back nine with a total score of 3-under 141 through two rounds.If Pagdangan keeps her nerves and sustains her charge, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) veteran could increase the country’s medal harvest.Ardina, the other Philippine bet in the field, remained at the bottom half of the 60-woman field despite improving four places to joint 36th. She shot a par 72 as she compensated for a double bogey at the second hole with birdies at 11th and 18th for a 4-over 148.Japan’s Yuka Saso, who represented the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Games, struggled anew and dropped a spot to joint 47th. She went two-over-par with 74 in the second round, with a seven on a par-four 12th hole.Round 3 of the event will continue on Friday, August 9.

Coming off a loss to Chery Tiggo last time, PLDT redeemed itself by blanking Farm Fresh to end its Premier League Volleyball (PVL) Reinforced Conference first round duties on a high note at PhilSports Arena on Thursday, August 8.The PLDT High Speed Hitters ended their Pool A run with a sweeping victory against the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23.The High Speed Hitters relied on Russian import Elena Samoilenko who finished with 22 points, supplemented by nine excellent receptions. Fiona Ceballos provided backup on offense and defense with 11 markers, 10 digs, and nine receptions, while veteran playmaker Kim Fajardo made 12 excellent sets and contributed on offense with three points. Mika Reyes also added eight points, half of which coming from blocks.

Stephen Curry waxed hot in the Olympics men’s basketball tournament finals tallying 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting from behind the arc to lead Team USA in capturing the gold medal.The Americans became the Olympic champions for the fifth consecutive time after weathering the 26-point effort of France’s 20-year-old phenom Victor Wembanyama to grind out a 98-87 over the host team on Sunday early morning (PH time) at the Bercy Arena in Paris.Curry’s 24-point explosion included the four 3-pointers he made in the final 2:43 of play with one sealing the game with 1:19 remaining. It put the Americans up by 93-84. He also put the final nail in the coffin by draining one more with 30 seconds left - with his signature “night night” move where he puts his hands on the side of his face.

Alas Pilipinas secured another bronze medal after prevailing over Indonesia in the second leg of the 2024 Southeast Asian (SEA) V.League on Sunday, August 11, at the Korat Chatchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.Alyssa Solomon, Sisi Rondina, and Jema Galanza formed a potent combo to breeze the Philippines past Indonesia in five grueling sets, 20-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 15-10, for another podium finish in conclusion of the regional meet.Solomon and Rondina proved to be a lethal one-two punch on offense with 25 and 18 points, respectively, helping the Philippines battle back after trailing twice in the match.Alas newcomer Galanza saved the national’s fading medal hopes from 1-2 down with eight of her 14 markers in the fourth set as the Filipinas reached the podium for the second straight leg.Indonesia, which was the Philippines’ tormentor in the past three SEA Games, went winless in six games in two V.League legs despite the efforts of Megawati Pertiwi, who fired 31 attacks, three blocks, and two aces.It will be the turn of the Alas men’s team to play in the V.League starting on Friday, August 16, in the first leg held at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The second leg is set in Indonesia starting on August 23.