Filipino sporting official Ramon "Tats" Suzara has been named the new president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.This, as he is the newest official tasked with putting the name of the Philippines’ volleyball teams on the map.The countdown begins for the upcoming 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship that will take place in the Philippines. In order for the national volleyball teams to thrive on the world stage, Suzara has to implement the visions he has for the AVC. First on his agenda is to put volleyball as the Top 5 of popular sports in Asia especially that Philippines is one of the spectators in Volleyball National League (VNL) around the world followed by Thailand, according to Suzara.Purchasing land in Bangkok to convert it into AVC’s headquarters is also part of his mission.

Two-time Olympian and pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena insisted that the Philippines should not wait until the end of his career to find his heir apparent.Returning to top form is still the top priority, but Obiena is pouring his time and efforts by advocating for increased interest in his sport, aiming to share his expertise to children who want to follow in his footsteps.With the positive response of Filipino youth in sports especially after the Paris Olympics, the world No. 3 pole vaulter said the nation’s sports authorities responsible for grassroots developments should take advantage of this and make its move to make sports accessible.

The Philippines had trouble-free opening round victories after it blanked both Aruba in the men’s division and Malawi in the women’s side via 4-0 scores in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday, September 11.Olympiad debutants International Master Daniel Quizon and Ruelle Canino pulled off impressive results with Quizon humbling FIDE Master Juan Pablo De Mey in 35 moves of a Sicilian Dragon on top board and Canino swatting Anne Simwabe on board four in an English Opening with a 35-move win as well.Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda commanded the tournament by delivering the first triumph for the country in this Olympiad edition by defeating Tupokiwe Msukwa in 35 moves of an English on board three.Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Shania Mae Mendoza, and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Canino, and then Quizon one by one posted victories by swooping down their helpless foes. Despite having trouble with his opponent, IM Paulo Bersamina capped the momentous day by overcoming Ilya Stetsenko on board two, completing the great start for the Philippine team coached by GMs Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales.The Filipino woodpushers are expected to field the same set of rosters in the second round of the 11-round tournament in their bid to stay on track for a potential top 20, possibly better, finish.

The San Miguel Beermen never looked back after their fiery start to contain their lead until the very end against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, 131-82 on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.In the first quarter of play, Marcio Lassiter already made history by draining four triples that made him the all-time league leader in three-pointers made by tallying his 1,252nd career threes. He surpassed Jimmy Alapag’s record of 1,250 when the Beermen raced to an early 37-13.Lassiter finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from downtown to be awarded as the Best Player of the game and tallied a new three-point record of 1,254. The game ball used in the historic feat was awarded by Commissioner Willie Marcial during half. Lassiter was joined on center stage by wife and five children.SMB also made history as they recorded a franchise-high 49-point lead at the end of game.The dominating win also gave them the ticket to the quarterfinals as they already reached six wins.Eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo made another monstrous double-double performance to back-up Lassiter. JMF scored 24 points, including a triple in the first quarter, and grabbed 17 rebounds.CJ Perez added 22 markers, while Terrence Romeo, import Jordan Adams, and Don Trollano combined for 37 points in helping the team deal Barangay Ginebra its biggest losing margin in franchise history.Rookie RJ Abbarientos led Ginebra in scoring with 19 points and Justin Brownlee helped by producing 16 quiet points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.The Gin Kings now have a 5-3 record and their four-game win streak has come to an end already in a game where coach Tim Cone suffered his biggest losing margin as a PBA coach.Ginebra’s next assignment will be Phoenix on September 18, 7:30 PM at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium while the Beermen will face the Elasto Painters on September 19, same time at the same venue.

Alas Pilipinas Men braces for tough challenges as they face strong adversaries in Pool A of the 2025 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, or FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.Host Philippines was grouped with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia in the first round of the world championship following the culmination of the drawing lots on Saturday, September 14, at Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City.Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni recognized the big responsibility and big challenge for the No. 64 Alas Pilipinas in the international championship scheduled for next year.

The National University Lady Bulldogs crumbled the hopes of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses of retaining their crown with a 75-69 win in the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball Finals at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, September 21. The Growling Tigresses made an effort to rally past NU in the third quarter with seven points, 68-61, anchored from three straight three-pointers courtesy of Karylle Sierba, Eka Soriano, and Kent Pastrana. Determined to duplicate their win in Game 3, the Tigresses hauled a 14-point deficit led by rookie Gin Relliquette, who basketed a three-pointer to make it 71-64. However, the Lady Bulldogs weathered the late comeback of the Tigresses as they recreated a 9-point separation off Cielo Pagdugagan’s layup at the 2:22 mark, 75-64, to seal NU’s victory.

The Indiana Pacers put a blemish on the NBA defending champions’ record this season when they defeated the Boston Celtics in overtime, 135-132.It seems like the Pacers will go all the way in regulation when they have erected a 24-point lead in the third quarter, but the Celtics made a surge in the fourth period and forced the game into OT.The breakdown of the Pacers in the fourth quarter just mirrored Indiana's campaign in the new season, starting with 2-3 records. But it looked like they found their groove once again in the extra minutes of play to defeat their Eastern Conference rival.Pascal Siakam hit a fadeaway to tie the game late in overtime and followed it up with a three-pointer that eventually sealed the game.Siakam finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while Bennedict Mathurin scored a team-high 30 markers, along with 11 boards, and four dimes.Obi Toppin also helped the Pacers’ campaign with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Tyrese Haliburton added 17 markers, six boards, and 12 dimes.Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum top scored the game with 37 points with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Jalen Brown and Derrick White added 25 and 23, respectively.

Jamie Danielle Nirza clinched gold in the advanced women’s individual kata at the 2024 Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games on Wednesday, December 5, at the NCCC Mall in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.The 18-year-old Nirza, who is representing Philippines Team A, exhibited her outstanding skills to earn 36.5 total points, defeating Malaysia’ A Anisa Aira Nur who logged 36.2 for silver medal.Malaysia B’s Ameera Liew and Brunei’s Nasir Abdul completed the podium to bag the bronze medal.

As Alex Eala continues her remarkable rise in world tennis, support is pouring in from every corner—including the halls of government. Senator Christopher "Bong" Go recently expressed confidence that the Filipina star can make history at the 2026 Asian Games, while emphasizing the importance of hosting more international tournaments and investing in Philippine sports.His remarks reflect a growing national belief that Eala is no longer just a promising talent—she is becoming one of the country's premier athletes on the global stage.Confidence Is Welcome, but Investment Matters MoreBacking Eala's bid for Asian Games success is easy. Delivering the environment that allows more athletes like her to emerge is the real challenge.Go's praise of the Philippine Open touches on an important point. Hosting international tournaments gives Filipino players valuable opportunities to compete against stronger opposition without the financial burden of constant overseas travel. It also exposes local fans to elite-level competition and raises the profile of tennis in a basketball-dominated sports landscape.However, tournaments alone cannot build champions.The Philippines also needs sustained investment in coaching, sports science, training facilities, youth development, and financial assistance for promising athletes. Eala's journey itself illustrates that reaching the highest level often requires years of international competition, specialized coaching, and significant resources.Eala Has Changed the ConversationFor decades, Philippine tennis struggled to produce players capable of consistently challenging the world's best.Eala has changed that narrative.Her victories over established WTA players have shown that Filipino athletes can compete—and win—at the highest levels of professional tennis. More importantly, she has become a role model for young players who now see a realistic pathway to international success.That kind of influence cannot be measured by rankings alone.Every breakthrough she achieves encourages more children to pick up a racket and believe that a Filipino can belong on tennis' biggest stages.The Asian Games OpportunityThe Asian Games present a unique challenge.Unlike the professional tour, Eala would face many of Asia's strongest players while carrying the expectations of an entire nation. Winning a medal would represent another historic milestone for Philippine tennis and further cement her status among the country's elite athletes.But expectations should remain realistic.Continental competitions are notoriously difficult, featuring world-class players from tennis powerhouses such as Japan, China, South Korea, and Kazakhstan. Success will require not only talent but also consistency, preparation, and perhaps a favorable draw.Sports Should Rise Above PoliticsPublic officials recognizing athletic achievements is positive. Athletes deserve encouragement regardless of who offers it.At the same time, meaningful support should extend beyond congratulatory statements. The true measure of commitment is whether policies, funding, and long-term programs continue long after the headlines fade.The goal shouldn't simply be celebrating Alex Eala.It should be creating conditions where the Philippines produces the next Alex Eala—and the one after that.Final TakeSenator Bong Go's endorsement reflects the growing excitement surrounding Alex Eala's career and the optimism that she can deliver another historic performance at the Asian Games. His call for more international sporting events is a constructive step, recognizing that exposure and competition are essential to athlete development.Still, the greatest legacy of Eala's success would not be a single medal or tournament victory. It would be inspiring a broader commitment to Philippine sports—one where world-class facilities, grassroots programs, and sustained investment become the norm rather than the exception.If that happens, Eala's achievements will be remembered not only for the trophies she wins, but for the generation of champions she helps inspire.

They may not have gotten the result they dreamed of, but Sisi Rondina and Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball gave the Philippines something far bigger—a reason to be proud.For Rondina, simply stepping onto the international stage was already a dream fulfilled.Representing the country at that level is an opportunity few athletes get to experience, and the Filipina star understands exactly what it means to carry the Philippine flag in competition against the best.But dreams are rarely measured by one result.Sometimes, they are measured by the courage to show up, the battles fought, and the lessons carried home.And that is exactly what Alas Pilipinas now has.A journey worth rememberingThe campaign may not have ended the way the team hoped, but every match gave the Filipinas another opportunity to test themselves, learn and grow.They leave the competition carrying more than memories.They leave with experience.They leave with lessons.And most importantly, they leave with an even stronger hunger for what comes next.For a team continuing to make its mark in international beach volleyball, every high-pressure match is another building block toward a bigger future.The disappointment may sting now.But it does not erase what they accomplished.The dream continuesThere will be another tournament. Another court. Another opportunity to wear the national colors.And when that moment comes, Rondina and her teammates will bring everything they learned from this journey with them.Because this was never simply about winning one match or one tournament.It was about fighting for the flag.It was about carrying the Philippines with pride.And it was about proving that Alas Pilipinas belongs on the international stage.So, kudos, mga Alas. 🇵🇭🔥You fought.You battled.You represented.And you gave Filipinos another reason to believe.This may not be the ending you wanted.But it is definitely NOT the end of the dream.The dream continues. 🇵🇭🔥

Gold comes with a price.For three-time JJIF World Champion Annie Ramirez, that price was more than just countless hours on the mat.It meant taking a financial risk on herself.As she prepares to defend her place among Asia’s best jiu-jitsu athletes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Ramirez went as far as borrowing money to train in the United States—a sacrifice she believes was necessary to give herself the best possible preparation.At 35, Ramirez already has the experience of a champion. But instead of relying solely on what she has accomplished, the veteran chose to push herself even further.She traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where she trained alongside fellow Filipino jiu-jitsu standouts Alexandria Enrique, Jollirine Co and Marc Lim.The objective was simple: expose herself to new techniques, tougher training and a higher level of competition before stepping onto the Asian Games stage.But making that preparation happen was not easy.“Umutang pa ako just to get that money,” Ramirez said.Behind those words is a decision that reflects just how seriously she is taking another shot at Asian Games gold.A champion who refused to settleRamirez already knows the feeling of winning at the continental level.At the Hangzhou Asian Games, she ruled the women’s 57-kilogram division to capture gold for the Philippines.For many athletes, reaching the top of the podium could be the culmination of a career.For Ramirez, it became another reason to keep chasing more.Rather than simply depending on her previous success, she searched for ways to improve—even if it meant making a personal financial sacrifice.The United States training camp gave her an opportunity to sharpen her skills alongside other Filipino athletes and challenge herself in an environment designed to raise the level of her preparation.It was an investment with no guaranteed return.There was no promise of another gold medal.Only the belief that better preparation could give her a better chance.Betting on preparationElite sport often comes down to details.A fraction of a second.A better reaction.A new technique.A stronger opponent in training.For Ramirez, the decision to train abroad was about creating those small advantages before the real battles begin.The financial burden may eventually be repaid.But the opportunity to compete for another Asian Games title is far more difficult to replace.That is why Ramirez chose to make the gamble.She could have relied on experience.Instead, she chose preparation.She could have been satisfied with being an Asian Games champion.Instead, she chose to chase another one.One more goldAt 35, Ramirez understands that opportunities at this level are precious.Her résumé already speaks for itself: three JJIF world titles, an Asian Games gold medal and years of experience representing the Philippines.But another Asian Games awaits.And once again, Ramirez will have to prove herself on the mat.This time, she arrives knowing exactly what she has invested to get there.The borrowed money. The training. The sacrifices. The uncertainty.All of it leads to the same destination.The podium.Ramirez has already paid the price before the first match begins.Now comes the part that matters most.Turning sacrifice into another gold medal.One more fight.One more opportunity.One more chapter for a champion who continues to bet on herself. 🇵🇭🥋

Cash incentives await some student-athletes representing the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.Asia Paraase, a student-athlete from Pajo National High School, who bagged the first gold medal for the 64th Palarong Pambansa on Thursday, July 11, will receive a cash incentive from Lapu-Lapu Government after demonstrating an exceptional performance during the secondary girls 3,000-meter run category.Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan acknowledged Paraase’s achievement and assured athletes from the city that they would be granted an unspecified amount worth of cash incentives.“We are happy and proud that the first gold medal came from an athlete from Lapu-Lapu. This brings great pride to our city,” said Chan.Participating student-athletes who will clinch gold, silver, and bronze medals will be rewarded.The City Sports Commission will recommend the budget allocation that will be approved and passed by the City Council. 

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.

The Philippine Basketball Association announced the new format for the upcoming Governor’s Cup for PBA Season 49 which is set to kick off on August 18.PBA commissioner Willie Marcial had long revealed that the league is adopting a format where the 12 teams are divided into two groups for the elimination round.The Top 4 finishers of each group will advance to the crossover finals quarterfinals, slated to be a best-of-five series. The semifinals and finals of the season-opening conference would be in a best-of-seven series.Teams, however, are still only allowed to tap imports no taller than 6-foot-6.With PBA finally unveiling the groupings for the new tournament format, Group A will be led by the most-recent Philippine Cup champion Meralco and defending Governor’s Cup winners TNT Tropang Giga along with Magnolia, NorthPort, Converge, and Terrafirma.On the other hand, Group B will be spearheaded by Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel. NLEX, Rain or Shine, Phoenix and Blackwater are joining them as well.The change of the conference format was made as part of the league’s effort to garner fans’ interest and enthusiasm as they try to spice things up ahead of its 50th season.

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. 

Eliza Yulo, youngest of the famed artistic gymnast siblings, snared three more gold medals to hike her total to five at the 64th Palarong Pambansa secondary girls artistic gymnastics at the Cebu Institute of Technology - University (CIT-U) on Sunday, July 14.Prior to this tournament, the younger sister of world champion and Olympian Carlos Yulo already won two golds from the individual and team all-around categories.Yulo dominated the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise events while also bagging a silver medal at the vault where she notched 11.650 points.The 14-year-old scored a quick gold in uneven bars with a 9.85 score over NCR teammate Amara Zoe Lagdameo and Western Visayas’ Sarah Lee Thompson.Yulo then bounced back from an iffy performance in the balance beam bagging a golden 12.05 result ahead of CALABARZON’s Jewel Rich Dagohoy and Central Luzon’s Tallula Adrienne Rose Nadres.The US-trained gymnast achieved a 10.900 mark in floor exercise, enough for a double gold tie with NCR teammate Cielo Esliza.Yulo and Esliza won a gold medal each.“I am so happy and surprised because this is only my first Palaro in the secondary level,” Yulo told Rappler after the event.“My US training helped a lot. I cleaned up a lot of my movements and skills,” she added.Despite missing the clean gold sweep, a five-gold haul is still no small feat even for an athlete of Yulo’s caliber, especially considering that she still has four years of Palaro eligibility in the secondary level.As of July 15, 9:45 am, the National Capital Region is now leading the medal scoreboard of the 2024 Palarong Pambansa with a total of 170 medals, followed by CALABARZON (Region IV-A) with 116 medals and Western Visayas (Region VI) claiming the third spot with an overall 99 medals.

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

Filipino-American gymnast Aleah Finnegan will proudly carry the Philippine colors when she makes her Olympic debut in the Paris Games.Finnegan is one of the four gymnasts who will represent the country in the Summer Games. She will join fellow Fil-Ams Emma Malabuyo and Levi Jung-Ruivivar in the women’s artistic gymnastics events while Carlos Yulo will represent the flag in the men’s division. They hope to bring the Philippines’ first Olympic medal for the sport.The LSU (Louisiana State University) legend came from a family of gymnasts. Her sister Sarah was an alternate for the US Team back in the 2012 Olympics while her other sister Hannah represented the Philippines in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.Aleah also represented the US Team in the 2019 Pan American Games where she won a gold medal.Who is Alean Finnegan?Finnegan might have a lot of success in the gymnastics world but there were obstacles that she also faced along the way.She underwent surgery for a navicular bone injury in 2020 after the Tokyo Olympics original schedule was postponed. She eventually tried to compete for a slot in the Olympics trials but was not selected. The Fil-Am gymnast also retired from elite gymnastics in 2021, and decided to continue her career in LSU.Then, opportunities knock upon her door and it opens a lot of success for her.When she switched federations in 2022 and decided to represent the Philippines, she immediately earned success and made an impact by winning a gold medal in the team event and vault of the Southeast Asian Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam.Then in 2023, Finnegan competed in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships where she finished 32nd in the the women’s all-around event which allowed her to be eligible for a slot to the Olympics making her the first Filipina gymnast to qualify in the Paris Games.

The Philippine Men’s Under-19 National Football Team’s hope of advancing to the semifinals was diminished after Cambodia drubbed the former, 0-1, in the last Group A playing day of the 2024 ASEAN Under-19 Boys Championship Tuesday night, July 23, held at Gelora 10 November Stadium in Surabaya, Indonesia.The Philippines tallied a 1-3 win-loss record after the young Filipino booters secured a 2-0 victory against Timor-Leste on Saturday, July 20. Their win was fuelled by their superb composure and excellent game management following their 6-0 defeat to hometown bet, Indonesia, during the tournament’s opener.But their celebration was short-lived as they bowed to Cambodia in the final game, placing them at the rear of the Group A ranking.Meanwhile, Indonesia notched a 6-2 victory over Timor-Leste as they won Group A of the ASEAN U19 Boys Championship.The 2024 ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship is the 19th edition of the ASEAN U19 Boys Championship, organized by ASEAN Football Federation. 

Cebuano weightlifters Elreen Ando and John Ceniza will begin their quest for Olympic gold next week, but this early, the acting mayor of Cebu City has promised to give them a huge bonus if they win medals in Paris.Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is committed to award Ando and Ceniza 1 million each from his personal funds if they can clinch gold medals in weightlifting.