The UAAP is making an important statement even before Season 89 officially gets underway: when the country calls, the league is willing to make room.The University Athletic Association of the Philippines has scaled down its September men’s basketball schedule to just five game days, allowing several of its student-athletes to represent the Philippines in major international competitions.With players set to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas squads in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan and the FIBA 3x3 Under-23 World Cup in Wuhan, China, the UAAP adjusted its calendar rather than force its young stars to choose between school and country.It is a decision that puts a familiar school rivalry on pause—but places national pride front and center.UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tips off on September 13, with the defending champion De La Salle Green Archers facing the National University Bulldogs in the opening-day main event at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.But unlike a typical September packed with collegiate basketball, the league will hold games on only five dates.A schedule built around the flagThe UAAP will stage September games on:September 13 — Smart Araneta ColiseumSeptember 16 — Mall of Asia ArenaSeptember 19 — Smart Araneta ColiseumSeptember 26 — Mall of Asia ArenaSeptember 30 — Mall of Asia ArenaThe unusual scheduling reflects the number of UAAP student-athletes expected to be involved in national-team duties during the month.For UAAP president Mark Molina of Far Eastern University, the decision reflects what collegiate sports should ultimately be about: developing athletes not only for their schools, but also for the country.“We have always believed that the UAAP’s mission goes beyond the competition,” Molina said.The league president stressed that the UAAP takes pride whenever its student-athletes receive the opportunity to represent the Philippines, adding that the organization is willing to adjust its calendar whenever necessary to allow them to serve the national team.From school colors to Philippine colorsSeveral familiar UAAP names will temporarily trade their school jerseys for the national colors.La Salle’s Luis Pablo and Doy Dungo, together with UST’s Koji Buenaflor, have been called up for the Philippine men’s 3x3 basketball team for the Asian Games, scheduled for September 21 to 25.Meanwhile, Kacey Dela Rosa and other UAAP standouts are set to bolster the Philippine women’s 5-on-5 basketball team.Their involvement underscores the growing role of the UAAP as a pipeline for Philippine basketball.For these young players, the opportunity represents more than simply another tournament.Playing for their respective schools means competing for championships, pride and campus bragging rights.Playing for the Philippines means carrying the expectations of an entire nation.La Salle begins its title defenseBefore some of its players head off to national duty, however, the defending champions will first begin their UAAP title defense.La Salle faces NU on September 13, immediately setting the tone for another highly anticipated season of collegiate basketball.The Green Archers enter the season carrying the pressure that comes with being champions, while the rest of the league looks to knock them off their perch.But the early portion of the season will unfold under an unusual circumstance.Some of the league's biggest young talents will soon be pulled away from the UAAP hardwood to compete internationally.And rather than viewing that as an inconvenience, the UAAP has chosen to embrace it.A bigger stage for UAAP starsThe scheduling adjustment is also a reminder of the increasingly important relationship between collegiate basketball and the national team program.UAAP players are no longer simply future prospects waiting for their chance.Many are already being trusted with national-team responsibilities while still in college.The experience of competing against international opponents can only add another layer to their development—and potentially make them better players when they eventually return to the UAAP floor.For the league, that makes the temporary disruption worthwhile.The UAAP can wait. The national team cannot.The rivalries will still be there.The championships will still be there.But opportunities to represent the Philippines on the international stage do not come around every day.And for the UAAP, the message is clear:School pride matters. But when the Philippine flag is on the line, the flag comes first.

Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara didn’t just win a medal.THEY OPENED A DOOR PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S BEACH VOLLEYBALL HAS NEVER WALKED THROUGH BEFORE. 🇵🇭🔥The young Filipinas captured the PHILIPPINES’ FIRST-EVER ASIAN GAMES BEACH VOLLEYBALL MEDAL, rallying from a set down to stun China, 13-21, 23-21, 15-13, and seize bronze in Aichi-Nagoya.But bronze shouldn’t be the finish line.IT SHOULD BE THE LAUNCHPAD.They swept Japan to reach the semifinals, pushed Thailand in a tight battle, then showed nerves of steel when the bronze was on the line.That wasn’t a lucky run.THAT WAS A STATEMENT.A statement that Filipino women can fight—and win—on Asia’s biggest beach volleyball stage.And now?THE NEXT STAGE IS LOS ANGELES.LA28. 🇺🇸🔥The Olympic dream suddenly doesn’t feel so far away.Because the question is no longer:“CAN FILIPINO WOMEN COMPETE IN BEACH VOLLEYBALL?”They already answered that in Aichi-Nagoya.The question now is:“HOW FAR CAN THEY GO?”That answer won’t come from one medal.It will come from more international tournaments. More world-class opponents. Better preparation. Stronger support. And the resources to turn Asian Games potential into Olympic-level performance.Because you don’t build an Olympic team by celebrating a breakthrough and moving on.YOU BUILD IT BY INVESTING IN WHAT COMES NEXT.🥉 BRONZE TODAY.🇺🇸 LA28 TOMORROW.And maybe—just maybe—this is where the Philippine women’s beach volleyball Olympic story begins.PROGELLA. PAGARA. REMEMBER THE NAMES.THEY MADE HISTORY IN ASIA.NOW LET’S HELP THEM MAKE NOISE IN THE WORLD.

Before Margielyn Didal became an Olympic finalist and one of the Philippines’ most recognizable skateboarders, she was simply a Cebuana kid waiting for her turn to borrow a board.She grew up in Lahug, Cebu City, in a family that knew the meaning of hard work. Her father, Lito, worked as a carpenter. Her mother, Julie, worked as a housekeeper and sidewalk vendor. Even as a child, Margielyn helped sell kwek-kwek.Then, at 12, she discovered skateboarding.She saw local skaters riding in her neighborhood and wanted to try it herself. There was just one problem:SHE DIDN’T HAVE A SKATEBOARD.So she borrowed one.She waited for her turn. She fell. She got back up. And slowly, the borrowed board became the starting point of something much bigger.But talent alone wasn’t enough.Without a cellphone of her own, Didal found another way to learn. She paid ₱5 for 30 minutes of internet access at a computer shop, watching skateboarding tutorials in slow motion and studying every movement she could.Thirty minutes.Five pesos.One dream.AND SHE MADE EVERY SECOND COUNT.The road was anything but easy.Injuries forced her to stop. Doubt tested her confidence. Comebacks demanded patience. But she kept returning to the sport that had captured her heart.Then came the breakthrough that changed everything.On August 29, 2018, at just 19 years old, Didal won gold in women’s street skateboarding at the Asian Games in Indonesia.The girl who once waited to borrow a skateboard had just conquered Asia.But she wasn’t finished.At the 2019 SEA Games, she added two more gold medals—in women’s Game of Skate and women’s street.Then came the biggest stage of them all.At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Didal reached the final and finished seventh.Think about that journey.From a Cebu neighborhood.From helping sell kwek-kwek.From borrowing a skateboard.From watching tricks on a computer for ₱5.TO THE ASIAN GAMES PODIUM.TO TWO SEA GAMES GOLDS.TO AN OLYMPIC FINAL.That isn’t just a skateboarding story.THAT IS THE STORY OF A GIRL WHO REFUSED TO LET HER CIRCUMSTANCES DECIDE HOW FAR SHE COULD GO.Her first skateboard may have been borrowed.Her opportunities may have started small.But the dream?THAT WAS ALWAYS HERS.And perhaps that is Margielyn Didal’s greatest legacy.Somewhere today, another Filipino kid may be watching a skateboarder and thinking, “Gusto ko rin.”Maybe that kid doesn’t have a board.Maybe there’s no proper training facility.Maybe the dream seems too big.But Margielyn has already shown them something powerful:YOU DON’T NEED TO START WITH EVERYTHING.YOU JUST NEED TO START.She borrowed a skateboard.Then she made history with it.

WHEN THE GAMES BECAME THE STORY, AICHI-NAGOYA’S ORGANIZATIONAL NIGHTMARETHE ATHLETES CAME TO MAKE HISTORY. INSTEAD, THE ORGANIZERS SOMETIMES BECAME THE HEADLINE.But after the curtain fell on the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, it was the Games’ organizational problems—not just the medals and records—that dominated much of the conversation.The continental showcase officially closed on October 4, ending two weeks of extraordinary athletic performances that included world and Asian records.Yet alongside the sporting brilliance came a long list of logistical headaches: accommodation shortages, transport failures, airport delays, anthem mix-ups and complaints over cramped athlete housing.For some officials, the problems were serious enough to warrant a failing grade.“If I were to give them a grade, it would be an F,” Korean Sport and Olympic Committee president Ryu Seung-min said during the Games.One of the most controversial decisions was the decision not to build a traditional Athletes' Village.Instead, organizers relied on hotels, a cruise ship and temporary container accommodations to house thousands of participants.The scale was enormous: roughly 17,000 athletes and officials took part, making the Asian Games larger in participant numbers than the upcoming Olympics.The alternative housing system quickly became a source of complaints.Some athletes assigned to the container units reported leaking water and beds that were too short, while others staying aboard the cruise ship raised concerns over accommodation and meals.What was presented as a cost-conscious and environmentally minded approach instead became one of the defining controversies of the Games.Then came transportation. Athletes reported delayed or missing shuttles, while some teams were taken to the wrong locations.South Korea's football team arrived late for a match after its bus driver got lost. Its basketball team reportedly missed a scheduled shootaround because its shuttle did not arrive.In another mix-up, a bus assigned to South Korea picked up Pakistan's team instead, while Pakistan's designated bus collected the South Koreans.For elite athletes working around tightly scheduled training, recovery and competition windows, those aren't minor inconveniences.Timing is part of performance. Perhaps the most striking mistake came before a men's hockey match involving South Korea.Instead of South Korea's anthem, organizers played the North Korean national anthem.The organizing committee apologized, while the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee lodged a formal complaint and demanded measures to prevent a repeat.It was one of several protocol problems reported during the Games, including an issue with South Korea's flag during the men's football medal ceremony.There was another uncomfortable sight: sparse crowds at some venues.The Games struggled to generate consistently strong attendance, with reports of empty sections even as athletes delivered world-class performances.The contrast was striking. On the field, track, pool and courts, records were falling.In the stands, thousands of seats remained empty.The story, however, is not entirely one-sided. The Olympic Council of Asia defended the Games as a success, pointing to strong viewership, increased revenue and a remarkable haul of 54 world records and 89 continental records. The event also avoided leaving behind a massive new permanent sports complex burden.And the athletes themselves delivered spectacular moments.Teenage stars emerged. Records fell. New sports made their Asian Games debut. Champions were crowned.The sporting product survived.The question is whether the organizational experience matched the standard expected from Japan. That may be the bigger legacy of Aichi-Nagoya.Japan has previously hosted major global sporting events, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but that edition was followed by controversies over costs and a bribery scandal. Public resistance also contributed to the shelving of Sapporo's bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics.The Aichi-Nagoya experience now gives future Japanese hosting ambitions another issue to confront: trust.Can athletes trust the transportation system? Can delegations trust their accommodations? Can teams trust that basic protocols will be handled correctly?And can the country convince the international sporting community that it is ready to take on another mega-event?Those questions will not be answered by one bad bus ride or one anthem mistake.But when the problems keep piling up, they become more than isolated incidents.The athletes came to compete. Japan came under a microscope.And after Aichi-Nagoya, the next bid may have to prove that the country can once again make the organization of sport as impressive as the sport itself.

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 Philippine’s 22-man delegation is set to bring pride and glory to the country in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and fans will get an exclusive look at the athletes’ journeys through a new series of documentaries, starting Thursday, July 18.SMART Sports is set to release a four-part series entitled “Puso in Paris 2024” directed by Clev Mayuga.“I think our investment in the Olympics and in our athletes has a lot to do with our connection to these athletes. The main purpose of this series is to get to know them a little bit more so we can root for them, cheer for them, and be with them,” said PLDT and Smart Vice President Jude Turcuatco in an interview with Tiebreaker Times.The series opens with an episode on the Philippines’ golden boy artistic gymnastics, Carlos Edriel Yulo, who shares how this Olympics will be different after his struggles in last year’s Tokyo edition.The second episode, airing on Friday, July 19, will spotlight the boxers, including Tokyo 2020 medalists Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial, and Aira Villegas, as they share how boxing has helped them rise from humble beginnings. The second part of the episode, meanwhile, centers on Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam and first-time Olympian Hergie Bacyadan.The final two episodes will air the following Thursday and Friday, July 25 and July 26.The third episode will dive into the preparations of the first-time Olympian Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando, and John Ceniza and how they are upholding the legacy set by the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz.The series wraps with World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who is on a quest to fulfill a new dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist.The Philippines first joined the Olympic games a hundred years ago. For this year’s Summer Games, the Philippines will be represented by 22 warriors aiming for the podium finish.“Puso in Paris 2024” will be available for free on the Smart Livestream App.

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.

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.

Philippine gymnastics’ golden boy Carlos Yulo was predicted to win medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.The International Gymnast Online - an e-zine and kwon as the leading source of gymnastic news wrote in their July 21 preview of the men’s apparatuses that Yulo will land a gold medal in the men’s floor exercises over defending Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel.

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.

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.

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.

University of the East opened its bid in the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge in a stunning way, crushing reigning NCAA Season 99 champion De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in straight sets at the Paco Arena on Wednesday night, July 31.The Lady Warriors staged multiple comebacks to complete their domination of the Lady Blazers in a battle between Jerry Yee-coached squads.“The Lady Blazers have had the advantage over us the past couple of weeks, so I’m very happy that the girls pulled through even coming from behind,” said UE assistant coach Obet Vital.Down by as many as five points midway through the final set, UE rattled off a pivotal 9-1 run to gain momentum and sweep CSB to a 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 victory.Khy Cepada led the Lady Warriors by delivering 20 points, all from attacks, while Kayce Balingit and Jenalyn Umayam contributed 12 and 10 markers, respectively.Jelai Gajero also returned to the court for the first time since tearing her ACL in the same tournament seven months ago. The California Academy standout focused on regaining her floor defense for the game.Meanwhile, Corrine Apostol paced CSB with 14 points, while Rhea Densing chipped in 12 markers.UE will face UAAP Season 86 silver medalist University of Santo Tomas on Sunday, August 4, while St. Benilde will aim to bounce back against Far Eastern University on the same date.

Filipina rower Joanie Delcago raced for the last time in the 2024 Paris Olympics.Delcago concluded her Paris Olympic campaign after finishing second in the women’s single sculls Final D after clocking in 7:43.83 at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Friday, August 02.Overall, Delgaco winded up 20th, a respectable finish in what already is a historic outing in her first Olympic stint.The 26-year-old, who is the first Filipina rower to compete in the Olympics, qualified in the quarterfinals after toppling the repechage heat with 7:55:00. 

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.

An Olympic boxing gold remains elusive for the Philippines as Nesthy Petecio concluded her Paris Games campaign with a bronze after a split decision loss to Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in the women’s 57kg semifinal at the Roland Garros Stadium on Thursday, August 8 (Manila time).Petecio has been favored to advance to the gold medal match but appeared to lose steam against the 20-year-old opponent as Szemereta eked out a 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29 win.The Polish fighter, the youngest semifinalist in the women’s boxing event, fought back into contention in the second round after getting shut out in the first, using her reach to blunt Petecio’s combination.Szeremeta was the busier fighter in the third round, and while Petecio put together a flurry of punches towards the end, it was not enough to convince the judges who all scored in favor of her opponent.The stunning victory averted what could have been a showdown between Petecio and long-time rival Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei in the finals.Petecio was the last fighter standing for the Philippine boxing team, which was reduced to a two-bronze output after a strong performance in the Tokyo Olympics where the squad collected two silvers and a bronze.Aira Villegas was the other bronze medalist for the boxing team this year. Eumir Marcial, a bronze winner in Tokyo, and Hergie Bacyadan lost their opening bouts while Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam dropped out in the quarterfinals.Despite the loss, Petecio joined an exclusive club of Filipinos who have won multiple Olympic medals, including swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and became the first boxer to do so.

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.

Veteran guard Alex “The Crunchman” Cabagnot has returned to the Philippine Basketball Association by signing a two-conference deal with the Converge last Monday, August 5.The nine-time PBA champion came back to help the young FiberXers to become a much better team especially with the arrival of the 49th Season first overall pick Justine Baltazar who’s also seen as Justin Arana’s potential partner in the paint to form their own twin tower combination.Cabagnot will also team-up with the much improved Alec Stockton whom he can train to be an elite point guard, team leader and a crunch time scorer just like him.

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.

Filipina weightlifter Vanessa Sarno capped her Olympic debut in disappointment after logging a DNF (did not finish) at the Paris Olympics women’s weightlifting 71kg class at the South Paris Arena early Saturday (Manila time).What looked like a promising Paris Games campaign came to a quick halt as the 20-year-old Sarno used up all her three snatch attempts at 100kg, 10kg lower than her previous personal and national record, to no success.