It will be an epic rematch when the De La Salle University Green Archers defend their title against rival University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Finals.In Season 86, the DLSU wards won the title in three games against the UP squad.The Green Archers want to do it back-to-back as they will once again be led by the soon-to-be crowned two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao, while the Fighting Maroons aim to get revenge.It will only be the third post-elimination match-up of the two universities in the Final Four era.The two teams first faced each other in Season 84 when the leadership of coach Goldwin Monterverde led the Carl Tamayo-Malick Diouf combo of UP defeated the Justine Baltazar-led La Salle in their semi-final battle, and got their first championship since 1986.After two years, the Green Archers relied on the mentorship of new head coach Topex Robinson to help them win the Season 86 title in three games.In the coaches’ head-to-head match-up, Robinson had a 5-2 edge against Monteverde.

The 2026 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals is set to take on an international flavor as four foreign teams will compete in the tournament on July 10 to 11, boosting the level of competition for Filipino volleyball teams.In the collegiate division, Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club of Vietnam and Southern Storm Melbourne of Australia will challenge the Philippines' top collegiate squads.The juniors division will feature Perfect Set Dream Makers from the United States and Pacific Volleyball Academy, providing local young athletes an opportunity to compete against international opposition.“This year is very different. It's very special,” said Ian Laurel, noting that the tournament supports Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio's initiative to promote sports tourism.Organizers expect the participation of the overseas teams to provide valuable international exposure for Filipino players while elevating the overall quality of the competition.

ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles made an early statement in the 2026 PVL On Tour, defeating the Akari Chargers, 25-11, 25-23, 26-28, 25-17, on Wednesday at the Capital Arena.The victory not only marked ZUS Coffee's first win of the preseason tournament but also earned the Thunderbelles the competition's first ₱100,000 performance incentive.Fans were also treated to the debut of the team's revamped roster, with former Farm Fresh Foxies standout Jolina dela Cruz and reigning NCAA Season 101 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Zam Nolasco earning spots in the starting lineup.The match likewise featured the PVL's experimental preseason rules, including the two-point Premier Ball and the mandatory 14-player rotation, giving teams an opportunity to test new strategies while providing more playing time for the entire roster.With an impressive opening victory and fresh faces making an immediate impact, ZUS Coffee sent a strong message that it is ready to contend in the 2026 PVL On Tour.

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.

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

Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas retained its flawless record in the 43rd William Jones Cup in Taiwan after a 112-90 blowout over USA on Thursday, July 18, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei.Chris McCullough once again forefronted the Philippine team after unloading 24 points on top of 18 rebounds and seven assists. Tajuan Agee supported McCullough with 19 markers, while the rest of the local cast also delivered in the victory that saw Strong Group pull away in the second half.USA pulled ahead of the competition at 62-62 early in the third quarter before SGA ended the period on a 17-14 run for an 89-76 lead, which ballooned to as big as 22 points.Incoming Ginebra rookie, RJ Abarrientos was the top local performer contributing 17 markers off four triples, Jordan Heading chipped in 11 points, while Ange Kouame and Allen Liwag scored 10 each.Meanwhile, Future Sports leaned on Bowen Hammer as he led the pack with 18 points and six rebounds, while Marcus Elliott added 15 points.On the heels of the most dominant victory, Strong Group-Pilipinas aims to continue its winning streak in the tournament when it tangles with Japan on Friday, July 19. 

UAAP Season 86 Champion National University and Far Eastern University fight for the second Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals crown in a best-of-three title series starting Monday, July 15, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The Lady Bulldogs claimed a 25-19, 25-28, 25-21 victory in their knockout semifinals match, displaying their championship poise in the third set when the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights threatened to come back from a nine-point deficit.The reigning UAAP champions now have a 4-0 record in the tournament.“We are happy that we won and will play in the championship. Everybody played their roles but we still need connection in our plays especially with the new players, “ NU coach Norman Miguel said in an interview with ABS-CBN.Two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Bella Belen paced her team with 18 points off 14 kills, three aces and a kill block while Arah Panique delivered nine markers.On the other hand, the FEU Lady Tamaraws booked their spot in the semifinal berths after overwhelming NCAA three-peat champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde with a 25-16, 25-16, 25-16 triumph.Gerz Petallo led her pack with 14 points off nine attacks, four aces, and a block to set a Finals date against their Season 86 Final Four tormentors.“It is an opportunity again to go against NU because during UAAP semifinals, we were like up to the challenge because we were like the dark horse in the roster. It is very unexpected but we overcame the challenges and we worked hard to achieve this feat. So, see you, NU,” Petallo told Inquirer.net in an interview.With the win, DLS-CSB has been relegated to the bronze-medal match, which is a repeat of NCAA Season 99’s women’s volleyball finals. 

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.

Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan won the country’s first medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women’s individual saber event at the Grand Palais on Monday, July 29.Five-time Olympian Kharlan reached the semifinals by defeating Japan’s Fukushima Shihomi (15:9), Azerbaijan’s Anna Bashta (15:6), and Hungary’s Anna Marton (15:7), but she lost to top seed Sarah Balzer (7:15) of France in the semifinals.Kharlan overturned a six-point deficit to beat South Korea’s Sebin Choi, 15-14, to earn a bronze medal.The Ukrainian fencer was disqualified from last year's world championships, a key Olympic qualifier, for refusing to shake the hand of a Russian opponent Anna Smirnova after winning their bout.Amid a mounting backlash, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stepped in to hand Harlan a “unique exception”, a guaranteed spot at the Games. The fencing’s governing body overturned a two-month ban it had imposed along with the disqualification and made handshakes optional soon after.Kharlan has now earned a total of five Olympic medals in both team and individual events, but her latest medal is nothing like the others.“I brought a medal to my country, and it is the first one, and it is going to be a good start for our athletes who are here because it is really tough to compete when your country is at war,” Kharlan said post match.“Every medal is like gold. I don’t care that it is bronze. It is gold.”

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.

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.

France clinched a ticket to the Paris Olympics men’s basketball tournament final four by defeating the previously unbeaten Canada on Tuesday, August 6 (Manila Time) at the Bercy Arena.Guerschon Yabusele, who was inserted to the starting line-up together withIsaia Cordinier picked up the slack for a subdued Victor Wembanyama, helping establish an early 23-10 advantage in the first quarter and France never relinquished until the end.Yabusele led the way for the host team with 22 points and Cordinier added 20 markers. Evan Fournier scored 15 points and Mathias Lessort notched 13 as Wembanyama was limited to seven, while still hauling down 12 rebounds.On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 27 points for Canada while RJ Barrett contributed 16 markers.The win set up a rematch against Germany in the semi-finals that is scheduled on Thursday, August 8.

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.

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.

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.

Italian Angiolino Frigoni will be debuting as Alas Pilipinas men’s head coach in the first leg of Southeast Asian Volleyball League (SEA V.League) slated for August 16 to 18 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The 70-year-old mentor is a two-time Olympian head tactician for the Italian women's team in the 1992 Barcelona and 2000 Sydney games. He was formally named by the PNVF last June after being recommended by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) last year.The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), headed by President Ramon Tats Suzara expects Alas Pilipinas men's team to showcase quality competitions among fellow Southeast Asian nations in the single round robin three-day tournament.

The Meralco Bolts and Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots will be the first game of the PBA’s 49th season that will open on Sunday, August 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Coming off their first championship in the last Philippine Cup, the Meralco Bolts will face the Hotshots in the lone opening game of the Governors’ Cup at 7:30 p.m.But before the tip-off, there will be an opening ceremony scheduled at 5 p.m. at the end of the 48th Season Awards where the top performers from last season will be honored including the announcement of the Most Valuable Player. The awarding is set at 4 p.m.The one game to be played on the opening night will be Meralco’s import Allen Durham return game, after four years. He is looking to finally win a chip in the import-laden tournament.On the other hand, Magnolia will parade former NBA Slam Dunk Champion, Glenn Robinson III to be their reinforcement.

The Chery Tiggo Crossovers secured their place in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference after breezing past the winless ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Saturday, August 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Crossovers bounced back from their previous loss to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, improving their record to 5-2 and claiming solo fourth place after hammering the Thundebelles in a commanding straight-sets victory, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19.With the quarters in mind, coach Kungfu Reyes said they will try harder in training, which they expect to show in matches.