Creamline prevailed in the highly anticipated rematch of last season’s conference, trouncing Akari in straight sets, 26-24, 25-17, 25-16, to secure its second consecutive victory in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Candon City Arena on Saturday, November 23.The Cool Smashers were boosted by the return of three-time MVP Tots Carlos, who made her first appearance since missing the import-laden event and Invitational Conference due to a knee injury.Creamline took a 16-10 lead in the third set thanks to a 7-2 run led by Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons, who each had three and two points.Bea de Leon would help the Cool Smashers gain ground, and Pau Soriano, a substitute, would kill block Faith Nisperos to complete the victory.

National University ruled the UAAP Season 87 Cheerdance Competition, claiming its eight title overall with a breathtaking, space-themed performance on Sunday, December 1, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.With NU capturing their eighth UAAP Cheerdance Competition crown, they are now tied with longtime first-placers University of the Philippines Pep Squad and University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Troupe, solidifying the program's status as an all-time powerhouse in the highly-anticipated annual competition.NU Pep Squad’s gravity-defying, windmill-like stunts propelled the team to a runaway victory, dethroning Far Eastern University with a total of 713 points.Team captain John Paul Cabido credited his coaches for the concept and theme.

The Rice Vanguards seem very determined to bring back the championship in Nueva Ecija after failing to do so in the past two seasons.In their latest move, NERV signed the Marcelino twins who incidentally were part of the Zamboanga Master Sardines that they beat in the 2022 MBPL finals.On their Facebook page, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards welcomed former MVP Jaycee Marcelino and his twin brother, Jayvee, to their turf.The team expects the relentless twins to bring their explosiveness, dynamics, and domination to Nueva Ecija.

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.

Hulk Hogan, the legendary face of 1980s professional wrestling who successfully transitioned into acting, has died at the age of 71.Standing at 6-foot-7 with his signature bandana and blond handlebar mustache, Hogan—born Terry Bollea—was a Hall of Famer whose charisma and ring presence helped transform professional wrestling into mainstream entertainment.According to reports in the U.S., his manager Chris Volo said that Hogan passed away at his home in Florida. Some reports cite "cardiac arrest" as the cause of death.Hogan’s larger-than-life persona, billed as a heroic all-American, drew millions of fans, turning professional wrestling into a global phenomenon and financial powerhouse. Debuting in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1979, he became a household name in the mid-1980s alongside icons like Andre the Giant and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.His brand of "Hulkamania" extended beyond the ring, leading to roles in films like Rocky III and No Holds Barred, as well as appearances on TV shows such as Baywatch.Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” WWE shared on social media, extending condolences to his family, friends, and fans.Hogan’s career was not without controversy. He faced public scrutiny after an intimate video was leaked, and later for his use of racist language, which led to his firing from WWE in 2015. He apologized and was eventually reinstated into the Hall of Fame.In recent years, Hogan was an outspoken supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, memorably appearing at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he ripped off his shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top.Years of performing took a toll on Hogan’s health. He was married three times and is survived by two children from his first marriage to Linda.

The remains of late student-athlete Divine Adili have arrived in Nigeria on June 25, according to the Ateneo de Manila University.The university confirmed that Adili’s remains were transported from Manila on Monday, following a candlelight service, daily Masses, and a public wake held in honor of the Ateneo Blue Eagles big man.Ateneo also sent two representatives to accompany the return of Adili’s remains as part of its support for the grieving family.Meanwhile, the university continues its 40-day mourning period for Adili and Rene Baterbonia. During this period, the Ateneo flag will remain at half-mast, and daily Masses will be held in their memory.The university said it continues to coordinate with authorities regarding separate investigations into the deaths of the two student-athletes. The Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation are expected to release findings that may help clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.The return of Adili’s remains to his family marks a significant step in the mourning process, as the Ateneo community continues to grieve and honor his life and contributions to the team.

In Philippine volleyball, club rivalries fuel packed arenas and passionate fan bases. But when the country calls, even the biggest stars are expected to wear one uniform.That message was reinforced as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) announced that players officially representing Alas Pilipinas will prioritize national team duties over participation in the upcoming 2027 PVL On Tour Showdown. The league's decision underscores a principle that extends beyond the preseason tournament: representing the Philippines remains the highest honor for any athlete.The policy is straightforward. Players included in the official Alas Pilipinas delegation will not be allowed to compete in the preseason event while fulfilling national team commitments, particularly during international competitions and training camps. Only athletes who are not part of the official delegation and have no national team obligations will be eligible to participate in the On Tour Showdown.The move highlights the growing coordination between the country's professional volleyball league and the national program. As Philippine volleyball continues to make strides on the international stage, ensuring that the national team receives full commitment from its players has become increasingly important.For clubs, the ruling presents a familiar challenge. Teams may have to navigate the preseason without some of their biggest names, giving coaches an opportunity to evaluate younger players, deepen their rotations, and prepare emerging talents for larger roles. While fans may miss seeing marquee matchups during the On Tour Showdown, the absence of national team standouts reflects a greater objective.For the players themselves, balancing club and country has never been easy. Many have become household names through their performances in the PVL, yet the chance to compete under the Philippine flag carries a different kind of responsibility. International tournaments demand months of preparation, chemistry-building, and sacrifice—elements that cannot be compromised.The league's decision also sends a strong message about unity within Philippine volleyball. Rather than creating conflicts between club and national schedules, the policy emphasizes collaboration, ensuring that the country's best athletes can focus entirely on representing the nation when called upon.As the 2027 PVL On Tour Showdown approaches, fans can still expect competitive matches and fresh storylines. New faces will have opportunities to shine, while established stars wearing the Alas Pilipinas jersey will focus on elevating Philippine volleyball on the international stage.In the end, the league's directive reinforces a simple but meaningful belief: club success is celebrated, but national pride comes first. For Philippine volleyball, every step toward international excellence begins with a shared commitment to putting the country above all else.

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.

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao shared a heartfelt reaction following the trade that sent Gian Mamuyac to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, acknowledging both his disappointment and the realities of professional basketball."Sometimes, you cannot control your destiny," Guiao said, reflecting on the move.The veteran coach admitted he had hoped Mamuyac would remain with the Elasto Painters, where the young guard spent the first four seasons of his PBA career. During that time, Mamuyac developed into a dependable contributor under Guiao's guidance, earning respect for his work ethic and steady improvement.Despite his disappointment, Guiao expressed gratitude for everything Mamuyac brought to the team and voiced confidence that the hardworking guard will continue to succeed with Phoenix.Guiao also emphasized a truth that every professional athlete eventually faces: trades are part of the business. While players and coaches may not always have control over where their careers lead, they can control how they respond to change.Rain or Shine played a significant role in Mamuyac's development, and Phoenix now acquires a player whose ceiling remains high. A new environment could provide the opportunity for another step forward in his career.Guiao's message served as a reminder that while teams and jerseys may change, professionalism, gratitude, and mutual respect remain enduring values in sports.

Heartbreak in Arthur Ashe Stadium.Alex Eala’s incredible 2026 US Open run is over after a brutal three-set battle against her close friend and doubles partner, Iva Jovic.7–5, 3–6, 7–5.That scoreline doesn't tell the whole story.Jovic took the first set.Alex answered.She fought back, unleashed her powerful winners and took the second set—her first career set victory over Jovic.Then came the decider.Point after point. Rally after rally.Alex refused to disappear.But when the match reached its biggest moments, the No. 14-seeded Jovic held her nerve and closed it out.And yes, it hurts.But let's not turn a heartbreaking loss into a story of failure.Because Alex Eala is doing something Philippine tennis has rarely seen.She is making the world's biggest stages feel like home.Every Grand Slam match adds another layer to her game. Every painful loss gives her another lesson. Every deep run raises the expectations—and the possibilities—for Philippine tennis.Today, Jovic gets the win.But Alex gets something too:Experience. Belief. And another reason to come back stronger.The dream didn't end in Arthur Ashe.It just got another chapter. 🔥🇵🇭Remember the name.Alex Eala isn't done. Not even close.

Jonalyn Halasan of Calabarzon bagged another gold medal for the region after ruling the secondary girls division of triple jump at 11.39 meters.This is the 17-year-old’s third time competing in Palarong Pambansa, and her second gold medal after finishing first in the elementary girls division of the same event in 2019.The student-athlete shared she draws inspiration from former long jump Olympian turned coach Marestella Torres. She also thanked her parents and her coaches for their support.“Even when we are not that tall and lean, they always remind us that we can still do it,” said Halasan, who hails from General Pantaleon Garcia Senior High School in Imus City, Cavite.

As the Alas Pilipinas Women made their way to Japan for their training camp, the nationals will be missing the services of De La Salle University's Angel Canino due to duties and responsibilities with the Lady Spikers.Canino, who played a pivotal role in the Philippines’ historic bronze finish at the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup earlier this year, will miss the two-week training camp, which serves as the team’s preparation for the Southeast Asian Volleyball League (SEA V.League) next month.National head coach Jorge de Brito confirmed the development as questions were raised about Canino’s absence from the Alas squad photo upon their arrival in Kansai, Japan.“She has her duties with DLSU and we support her commitment there. Sure, we would love it if she could join the national team camp, but it is all good,” said de Brito.The national team will have mainstays Jia De Guzman, Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Jema Galanza, Jen Nierva, Vanie Gandler, Fifi Sharma, Faith Nisperos, Dell Palomata, Cherry Nunag, Thea Gagate, and Julia Coronel.Fresh off winning the Shakey’s Super League National Invitational tournament, National University’s Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Arah Panique are also in the squad.Alas Pilipinas also welcomed two Filipino-Americans, setter Tia Andaya and libero Hannah Stires, to the training pool from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) tryouts in the United States.Vietnam will host the first week of the women’s SEA V.League 2024 from August 2 to 4, with Thailand providing the venue for the second week from August 9 to 11.

Toyota Motor Philippines has launched its 2024 motorsports season, marking the 10th anniversary of its racing series with exciting new developments.The series, formerly known as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup, will now be known as the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup, symbolizing a fresh chapter in the country’s racing scene.Held at the Clark International Speedway in Mabalacat, Pampanga, the TGR Philippine Cup will unfold over three weekends and will open to the public: July 13, September 28, and November 9.This year, the TGR Philippine Cup will feature new and returning racers competing in the Sprint Race across three categories: Promotional Class, Sporting Class, and Super Sporting Class.A new sprint race category, the Novice Class, will debut for celebrities, influencers and media personalities. Making their circuit race debuts are Reph Bangsil, Lexi Mendiola, sim racer Russel Reyes, and media racers Pablo Salapantan, Jose Altoveros, Jamil Lacuna and John Rey San Diego.The TGR Philippine Cup will also feature a driving exhibition by professional drifters using the GR 86. Motorsport fans can enter a raffle for a chance to ride in the passenger seat of the GR 86 as it drifts around a slalom course.Attendees can look forward to freebies, prizes, official GR merchandise, GR road cars on display and available for test drives, and a live musical performance.

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.

Akari’s import Oly Okaro had a performance to remember as she paced her team to a five-set comeback against the Choco Mucho as they went 2-0 to start the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday, July 23.The Chargers remain undefeated in Pool B after pulling off the reverse sweep against the Flying Titans, 18-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13.The 28-year-old American opposite spiker recorded an explosive performance in the game, matching the season’s scoring record of 38 points built off 33 attacks, three aces, and two blocks. Okaro tied Creamline’s Tots Carlos in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference last March with the fifth-highest scoring output in the league’s seven year-history.

Kiyomi Watanabe is set to make her mark again in the world stage as she will be competing for Team Philippines in women’s judo of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for the second straight time.It has been three years since the Philippines fielded the Olympics with a female judoka to represent the nation in judo. And though Watanabe’s campaign did not get as far as she had hoped, she earned the distinction as the first Filipina Olympian in the sport since the country participated in Olympic Judo competitions since 1964.Three years later, that remains to be the case as Watanabe is the lone female in the country’s elite line of judokas in the Olympics which includes John Baylon (1998 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona), Jerry Dino (1998 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona), Benjie McMurray (1988 Seoul), Tomohiko Hoshina (2012 London), and Kodo Nakano (2016 Rio).The 27-year-old had a forgettable outing in her Olympic debut in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games after absorbing defeat in the opening round via an ippon to Spain’s Cristina Cabaña.Despite the heartbreaking loss, Watanabe booked her return trip to the Olympics.Watanabe, who won four gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games and a silver medal in the Asian games, secured her seat after earning one of the two continental quotas allocated for Asia in the -63 kilogram class of the women’s category through her world ranking, No. 92.In her return to the Olympics, the Filipino-Japanese vowed to do better by hurdling the first round in the weight division consisting of 28 entries.Watanabe is set to begin her stint on July 30. 

Philippine gymnastics golden boy Carlos Edriel Yulo has booked a ticket to three Olympic events on his turf - all-around, floor exercise, and vault during the men’s artistic gymnastics qualification held at the Bercy Arena in Paris.The 24-year-old Yulo placed second in  the floor exercise with a score of 14.766, then sixth in the vault with a mark of 14.683 and performed in all events to get the 9th spot for the all-around with a score 83.631.On the other hand, Caloy failed to advance in the parallel bars - an apparatus where he won silver in the 2021 World Championships and gold in the 2022 Asian Championship. He scored 14.533 after his routine with a difficulty of 6.000. In the rings he scored 13.000, and 13.466 in the horizontal bar but not enough to advance to the finals. He also failed to advance in the pommel horse - the one they called his “kryptonite” with the score of 13.066.The single events target was to make it to top eight, and be part of the overall top 24 gymnasts for the all-around event. As Yulo qualified for three finals events, he surpassed his 2020 Olympics stint with one finals appearance in the vault. This time, he has three chances to get a medal for the men’s artistics gymnastics.Carlos Edriel will have his first shot at gold on July 31 at 11:30 p.m. PHT, with the individual all-around event. The floor exercise final will commence on August 3 at 9:30 PM PHT, while the vault final is set on August 4 at 10:24 PM PHT.

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 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.

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.