The East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away launches its 2024-25 season, kicking off a thrilling double-header at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, October 2.Two PBA basketball champions will banner the opening games with the reigning Commissioner’s Cup victors San Miguel Beermen will face Korean Basketball League finalist Suwon KT Sonicboom in the first game of the night, while PBA Philippine Cup winners Meralco Bolts will then take on Macau Black Bears.

The Elasto Painters team is now ready for their competition against Magnolia Hotshots in another do-or-die game tomorrow, Saturday, October 5, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Coach Yeng Guiao firmly believes that through this match, their desire to end the eight-year hunger for a title will be strong and soon to get hold of it. It can be remembered that last Tuesday in their intense Game 4 against the Hotshots, Rain or Shine failed to get the third win and they were dumped by Magnolia, 129-100. Guiao said that his team's stability as well as their resiliency and character will be tested in their clash tomorrow (Saturday) against the Hotshots. “Yung experience of playing a Game 5, of being in a winner-take-all situation, sa akin, kasama na ng build up yun. We're always getting better every playoff game that we played,” said the head coach of Rain or Shine. “So investment namin ito sa future ng team na para lalo kang tumitibay pag ka ganitong sitwasyon. So a Game 5 would be good for us as a team. This Saturday pag balik namin kailangan mas prepared kami for a very physical game, noting how the Hotshots played physically in the previous game.” Guiao added. “On our end, siguro kailangan kaming mag step up in terms of being a little bit more aggressive defensively and medyo yung transition game namin, yung running game namin, I don’t know if we’re tired or we’re a little slower or not able to get into the pace that we would usually be playing,” told Guiao. The winner of the series will play TNT Tropang Giga in the best-of-seven semis that begins on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.

San Miguel averted disaster after dispatching the Converge FiberXers in the toe-to-toe Game 5 of their quarterfinals match-up, 109-105, on Sunday night at the Ynares Center, Antipolo.June Mar Fajardo showed why he's an eight-time MVP by producing a monster double-double of 40 points and 24 rebounds to lead the Beermen in entering the semis of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.Fajardo went 15-of-27 from the field and shot 10-of-12 from the free throw line to carry much of the load in SMB's triumph.Though having a lot of contributions, JMF said that they all step-up in their do-or-die victory.

The first-ever father and son duo happened on the opening night of the NBA's 2024-25 Season when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Minnesota Timberwolves, 110-103, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.The historical feat happened in the latter part of the first period when LeBron and Bronny James were fielded in together. They shared the court for more than two minutes.According to LeBron, family is the reason why he wanted to play together with his son in the league.

Cignal overcame a second frame deficit to win the next two, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, against Chery Tiggo in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday, November 21.Fueled by their excellent patience and strong floor defense, the HD Spikers outperformed the Crossovers in a battle of spurts to stay undefeated in two games and tied Akari and PLDT for first place on the leaderboard."Happy because the team performed well but we know that is still not what we want to happen. The good thing is, while we encountered that situation, we were able to recover," said Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos.

After the Green Archers failed to clinch the coveted championship in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball, Kevin Quiambao is about to leave his team for good.The De La Salle power forward confirmed this after signing a contract with the Goyang Sono Sky Gunners to play in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).In his post on social media, he said that he will continue his plan to play in the NBA someday.

In an unstoppable performance, the UST Junior Golden Tigresses claimed the top spot in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League Junior National Invitationals after sweeping fellow unbeaten St. John’s Institute in straight sets, 25-17, 25-23, to complete the elimination round with a perfect record.The Golden Tigresses advanced to the semifinals as the tournament's No.1 seed following their latest triumph.Anneli Manzanillo was named the MVP of the Match award after playing a key role in their victory. She finished with 8 points, highlighted by 4 attacks and 4 blocks in a dominant performance at the net. The unbeaten campaign marked UST's first-ever perfect elimination round since 2023, when the Junior Golden Tigresses went on to capture the bronze medal in the tournament.Meanwhile, Angeline Poyos was named Best Outside Hitter, while Bernadett Pepito earned the Best Libero award.UST will await its semifinal opponent, while St. John’s dropped to a 4-1 record. The squad is scheduled to face Pacific Volleyball Academy (PVA) in its final preliminary-round match.

The Philippines may not have advanced to the next stage of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, but the Filipinas left the global stage with something far more important—a historic first chapter.Making their maiden appearance in the prestigious tournament, the Philippine women’s baseball team finished with a 2-3 record, highlighted by two statement victories that showed the country can compete among the world’s best.The biggest breakthrough came against Cuba, where the Filipinas stunned the highly ranked side with a commanding 6-0 victory—the Philippines’ first-ever World Cup win over Cuba.They followed it up with another impressive performance, defeating Great Britain, 6-2, to further announce their arrival on the international stage.For team captain Veronica Velasco, the significance of their campaign goes beyond the results.“Yung unang panalo ng Pilipinas sa World Cup ay ginawa ng kababaihan.”It was a historic moment for Philippine baseball, and one the team hopes will inspire a new generation of female players.A tough introduction to the world stageThe Filipinas opened their World Cup campaign against defending champion Japan, suffering a defeat but gaining valuable confidence from their performance against one of the tournament’s strongest teams.That experience proved crucial.The Philippines bounced back with victories over Cuba and Great Britain, displaying the talent, resilience and competitiveness needed to challenge established baseball nations.However, the road to the 2027 World Cup Finals in Rockford, Illinois, ultimately ended after losses to host Chinese-Taipei, 8-2, and Venezuela, 10-0.Head coach Isaac “Saki” Bacarisas believes those setbacks provided an important lesson.The team now has a clearer understanding of the level required to compete at the highest stage—and, perhaps more importantly, a better idea of the areas that need improvement.More than a debutBacarisas remains confident that the Filipinas can return to the World Cup and perform even better.The team’s historic campaign was made possible after the Philippines received a wildcard entry into this year’s tournament. Rather than simply being grateful for the opportunity, however, the Filipinas used it to make their presence felt.A 2-3 record may not tell the entire story.A first World Cup win over Cuba does.Two victories on the sport’s biggest stage do.And the confidence gained from facing some of the best teams in the world could prove even more valuable in the years ahead.For Velasco and her teammates, this was a chance to make history.They did.Now comes the harder part: building on it.The Filipinas have seen what the world stage looks like. They have experienced the pressure, measured themselves against elite opposition and discovered exactly what separates them from the teams they aspire to beat.The next time they return, they will not be first-timers anymore.They will be a team with experience, belief and unfinished business.The Filipinas didn’t simply make their World Cup debut. They announced that Philippine women’s baseball belongs on the world stage—and their story may only be beginning. 🇵🇭⚾🔥

Before John “Rambo” Chicano stood on top of a SEA Games podium, he was simply a young father trying to make a living.He needed a job to support his daughter, so he accepted work as a helper and janitor at a bike shop.He had no elite athletic résumé.In fact, he had one glaring problem for someone who would eventually become a triathlete:He couldn't swim.But someone saw something in him.The bike shop owner was national triathlon coach Melvyn Fausto, who recognized potential in Chicano and decided to teach him from the ground up.It was hardly an easy beginning.Chicano was learning one of the most fundamental skills of triathlon while simultaneously trying to survive in the water. During his early training, he was still nearly drowning.Fausto, however, kept teaching.And Chicano kept showing up.Just three months after beginning his training, he was already competing.From learning to swim to racing for medalsWhat started as a job became the beginning of an unlikely sporting journey.Chicano quickly developed into a competitive triathlete, eventually earning his first major SEA Games medal in 2017.He won silver, finishing behind fellow Filipino teammate Nikko Huelgas.Two years later, Chicano went one step further.Competing on home soil at the 2019 SEA Games in Subic, close to his native Olongapo City, he captured gold in the men's individual triathlon.The following day, he added another gold medal in the mixed relay.The man who once struggled to stay afloat was now standing on top of a SEA Games podium.More than a medalChicano's story is remarkable not simply because of the medals he eventually won.It is because of where the journey began.There was no obvious indication that a young father working as a bike shop helper and janitor would become a champion triathlete.There was simply an opportunity—and someone willing to recognize his potential.Fausto provided the guidance.Chicano provided the commitment.The transformation did not happen overnight.It came through learning a skill he initially couldn't do, enduring difficult training and continuing to show up even when the path ahead was uncertain.And that may be the most powerful lesson in his story.Someone saw what others didn'tSports often celebrates athletes after they have already made it.We see the medals.The podiums.The national team uniform.The victories.What we don't always see is the person before all of that—the athlete who is still learning, struggling and trying to find a way forward.John Chicano was once that person.He was a young father looking for work.A helper.A janitor.A man who couldn't even swim.Then someone looked beyond the job he was doing and saw an athlete.Chicano didn't waste the opportunity.From cleaning a bike shop to becoming a two-time 2019 SEA Games gold medalist, his journey is a reminder that talent doesn't always announce itself.Sometimes, it needs someone to notice.And sometimes, all that person needs is the courage to keep showing up.Athletes are people first.And behind every champion, there may be a story that began long before anyone knew their name. 🇵🇭🔥Off court only. Cool things only.

The Philippines-Davao NTB Wolves barely broke out a sweat after outclassing New Zealand-Fil Nation Select, 81-44, in the PSL Global Championship Challenge on Thursday, July 18, at the Victoria Sports Club in Quezon City.Seth Abiendo led the charge for the Philippines Born 2004 team, which remained undefeated in four games. Abiendo finished with 16 markers on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the field.Davao NTB Wolves will next face UK-KAMPI on Friday, July 19.Over at the young division, the Philippines Born 2006 team, represented by Cebu-University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR), picked up its fourth straight win after hammering UK-KAMPI Basketball over a 104-67 victory.Jan Vince Oringo showcased another excellent performance as he exploded with 26 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists and powered the Philippines Under-18 squad to another convincing win.North America, on the other hand, scored a repeat win over previous contender, Philippines-Pampanga, 85-68 in the Born 2008 division.Dominic Tuason tallied 5-of-9 3-point shots on his way to finishing with 27 points to lead the charge for the young Filipino cagers of the North American Basketball Association (NABA) - Intercity supported squad.

An archer from Siliman University competing for the first time ever grabbed three gold medals during the Palarong Pambansa 2024 Archery Competition.Naina Dominique Tagle earlier won two gold medals in the Girls Recurve 60 meters and 70 meters events, and one more for the Girls 1140 FITA event held at the South Road Properties (SRP) Grounds in Cebu City on Saturday, July 13.She ended up getting 3 golds in 4 events she participated in, grabbing the silver medal in the Girls Recurve 50 meters event - a great showing for a team debuting in the highly-competitive regional sports meet.“I think everybody has their skill set and not everyone can be the best at everything,” she told CDN Digital in an interview.Tagle’s coach, Darlene Banglos, had nothing but good words for her debuting team as they ended up victorious in their Palaro debut.“There is a bright future when it comes to archery because these are very young athletes, they still have a lot to learn,” Banglos told CDN Digital.Tagle will be competing for the Olympic Round of the archery event. 

It took Akari import Oly Okaro just two matches to etch her name in the record books of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).The American import showcased her scoring prowess in the Chargers’ last two games, dropping a couple of 30-point outings to power their reverse sweep victories against fancied rivals, Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz, to keep their tight grip on the top spot in Pool B.The 28-year-old opposite hitter’s 38-point explosion in the hard-earned triumph against the Flying Titans duplicated the league’s fifth-highest single-game scoring output set by Creamline’s Tots Carlos in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference in March.Okaro’s strong and remarkable offensive front earned her the conference’s second PVL Press Corps Player of the Week award presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of 23 to 27 July.Her brilliance outclassed Cignal’s MJ Perez, Capital1’s Marina Tushova, and Choco Mucho’s Royse Tubino as she received the unanimous vote from online, broadsheet, and tabloid reporters covering the professional volleyball league.

Serbian tennis sensation Novak Djokovic has finally completed his career golden grand slam after winning the Olympic Games gold in Paris. He defeated Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in a tightly contested match and won two sets 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) to earn his first Olympic gold.The 37 year-old and currently world’s No. 1 ranked tennis player joined Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, who have won all four tennis majors (the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open) and an Olympic gold medal in singles.Djokovic has won the Australian Open 10 times, Tour Finals seven times, Wimbledon seven times, US Open three times, and French Open three times.He sealed the title with a forehand. After getting the gold-clinching point, he turned to his box with an outstretched arm, and threw his racquet to the floor in celebration after the match lasted for almost three hours.After the match, he hugged his opponent Alcaraz before bursting into tears and fell to his knee in the middle of the Paris' Court Philippe-Chatrier.Then, Novak unfurled the Serbian and went to the stands to celebrate the victory with his family and support.

The National University Lady Bulldogs tripped Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights in its first game of the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge on Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.The Lady Bulldogs overcame a third-set defeat to conquer the Lady Knights, 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 25-11.Kaye Bombita and Myrtle Escanlar spearheaded the way for NU, whose young core showed great potential and promise, despite the absence of key players Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Arah Panique, who are currently competing with Alas Pilipinas Women in the ongoing SEA V.League tournament.

After two years of waiting, the No. 2 overall pick in the Season 49 rookie draft Sedrick Barefield is now ready to take his act to the Philippine Basketball Association.Barefield said that he is blessed to finally get going in Asia's first-ever play-for-pay league where he is expected to play a major role in Blackwater’s campaign in the 49th Season Governor’s Cup.He also credited the Bossing head coach Jeffrey Cariaso and his wards for making the transition smooth for him.

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.

Eleven members of the National Masters & Senior Athletics of the Philippines are set to represent the country in the World Masters Athletics Championship 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden on August 13 to 25.Javelin thrower Danilo Fresnido, World Masters Athletics double gold medalist, will be leading the Philippine delegation for the 12-day biennial competition.Other members of the team include John Aguilar (100m), Ben Alacar (10km road run and 5km walk), Edward Kho (400m), Ninoy Marayag (triple jump and long jump), Drolly Claravall (hammer thrown and discuss throw), Riezel Buenaventura (pole vault), Nhea Barcena (half marathon), Brenza Zinampanan (100m, 200m, and 80m hurdles), Judith Stapes (pole vault and discuss throw), and the father of Philippine Olympian EJ Obiena, Edward Obiena (pole vault and discus throw).The competition will commence on August 13, Tuesday, with three athletes competing on the first day: Staples in pole vault, Zinampan in the 100m Women’s event, and Aguilar in the 100m Men’s event.Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) director Merly Ibay will be the official accompanying the team. 

PLDT booked a ticket into the quarterfinals after eliminating ZUS Coffee in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena Tuesday night, August 13.The High Speed Hitters have qualified for the quarterfinals after dominating the still-winless Thunderbelles in straight sets, 25-18, 25-14, 25-12.Russian import Elena Samoilenko led the charge for the PLDT High Speed Hitters, posting a game-high 14 points on 12 attacks and two blocks to go along with eight excellent digs and six excellent receptions, while Majoy Baron supplemented the offense with 13 markers on nine attacks, three blocks, and one ace.For Baron, who also nabbed the Player of the Game nod, the triumph was a way of having fun and being consistent. She also revealed that missing the Final Four last conference became their motivation to win their games.

Algerian Olympic Champion and boxing gold medalist  Imane Khelif including teenage gymnastics gold medalist Kaylia Nemour and bronze medalist Djamel Sedjati were welcomed with cheers at Algiers Airport on Monday. Khelif, who won the women’s 66kg boxing event once said that she had to win for her country’s women, has become center of a gender controversy during the Paris Olympics. 

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.