A straight-set play over Chile sealed Bulgaria’s flawless run in Pool E, as the world No. 12 squad surged into the FIVB Men’s World Championship knockout rounds with a spotless 3-0 record.The Bulgarians left no doubt of their dominance, dismantling Chile, 25-17, 25-12, 25-12, on Wednesday, September 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. With the win, Bulgaria secured the top spot in their group and is set to face the Pool D runner-up — likely Portugal or Cuba — in the Round of 16.

The Meralco Bolts will serve as the sole Philippine representative in the upcoming 2025-26 East Asia Super League (EASL) season, as confirmed by league officials on Thursday, July 31.With the PBA’s 50th season packed with games, the league opted to field only one team instead of the usual two. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial explained the decision, citing scheduling difficultIes.

The TNT Tropang Giga showcased their strong defense with crucial stops in the final moments to secure an 88-84 win over Rain or Shine in Game 1 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven semifinal series on Wednesday night, February 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Despite being ahead by just three points with 1:59 left in the game, TNT shut down Rain or Shine's offense. The Tropang Giga capitalized on the Elasto Painters’ mistakes, forcing four turnovers, including a crucial steal by RR Pogoy off an inbound pass from Andrei Caracut with just three seconds remaining after a timeout.Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao designed a play for a potential game-tying four-point shot, but the attempt was spoiled by a bad pass.While RoS struggled in the final moments, TNT’s shooting, especially from beyond the arc, was on point. They hit 14-of-34 three-pointers, with Jayson Castro and Calvin Oftana leading the charge. Castro scored six three-pointers, missing only one, while Oftana also nailed six.

Unbeaten WBC top-ranked junior featherweight contender David Picasso of Mexico has officially joined forces with esteemed advisor Sean Gibbons of Knuckleheads Boxing, who also serves as COO of Manny Pacquiao’s Promotions.In a bold statement, Gibbons voiced his enthusiasm about the potential of both Picasso—set to compete on the undercard of Pacquiao’s highly anticipated return against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19—and the undisputed 122-lb champion Naoya Inoue.Gibbons emphasized that victories from both fighters could pave the way for a monumental showdown between Inoue and Picasso this December in Saudi Arabia.In addition to guiding Picasso, Gibbons also represents former champions Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Mark Magsayo, who are featured on the Pacquiao card. He has also successfully propelled numerous fighters to world titles and defenses, including IBF 130-lb champion Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez, IBF junior bantamweight champion Willibaldo Garcia, IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran, and newly crowned WBC interim flyweight champion Francisco Rodriguez.“I am genuinely thrilled to work with David Picasso. It’s a blessing to collaborate with some of the most significant names in Mexican boxing, and David is on the verge of fighting for Inoue’s belts. I am deeply committed to helping him realize his aspirations,” Gibbons stated.He also expressed gratitude to Al Haymon of Premier Boxing Champions for securing Picasso—whose impressive record stands at 31-0-1 (17 KOs)—a spot on the July 19 card following the withdrawal of another opponent.Gibbons’ remarkable history of guiding a wide array of Mexican fighters to championship glory fuels his confidence in Picasso’s future.“Inoue has only two elite challengers left in his division: Akhmadaliev and Picasso,” Gibbons noted.

After a two-year break from competitive beach volleyball, Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons returned with a statement—they’re still the team to beat.The dynamic duo, “SiPons,” capped off a perfect run at the PNVF Beach Volleyball National Open with a thrilling comeback victory over fellow Alas Pilipinas members Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, 17-21, 21-16, 16-14, in the finals held at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Laguna last Saturday, May 24.Despite their time away from the sand, Rondina and Pons showed little rust at first. They went undefeated in all five matches, not dropping a single set until the championship, showcasing the chemistry and firepower that made them national icons in the sport.Their campaign began with commanding wins in the pool stage—21-11, 21-6 over National University Nazareth School’s Faith Mangyao and Liezl Dejan, followed by a 21-12, 21-15 victory against University of the Philippines' Euri Eslapor and Kassie Doering.In the knockout rounds, Rondina and Pons continued their dominance, cruising past Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario in the quarterfinals, 21-9, 21-12, then edging Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella in a tighter semifinal match, 21-15, 21-19.But it was in the gold medal match where the pair showed their grit and championship pedigree. After dropping the first set, they rallied back to take the second and edged a nail-biting third set to seal the victory and reclaim their spot atop Philippine beach volleyball.Their successful comeback serves as a reminder of their elite status and raises anticipation for future international campaigns as part of the national team.

Filipino cyclist Joseph Javiniar delivered a breakthrough performance for the Philippines at the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi, finishing second in Sprint 2 (74.1km) of the grueling 214km Stage 7.Riding for 7Eleven Cliqq Road Bike Philippines, Javiniar made his mark by joining the race’s key breakaway group — the first time a Filipino has done so since 2018. His impressive sprint earned him a podium finish behind Malaysia’s Aiman Rosli, who took first place, while Yusri Shaari settled for third.Javiniar’s achievement not only showcased Filipino cycling talent on the international stage but also marked a promising step for the national contingent in one of Asia’s toughest road races.

The Philippine women’s softball team—the Blu Girls—are eyeing nothing less than gold as they prepare to defend their title at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.After softball’s two-edition absence from the SEA Games, head coach Ana Santiago said the team’s hunger for victory remains undiminished. “Nothing less than gold ang goal natin,” Santiago declared, recalling the Blu Girls’ last gold win at home in 2019.A dominant force since 1979, the Blu Girls have collected 11 SEA Games golds and are returning as favorites. Team captain Charlotte Sales and power hitter Roma Cruz, both SEA Games debutantes, expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness, especially after a productive training camp in Taiwan.“Malaking bagay ‘yung training camp namin. Nakatulong sa teamwork, communication, and ‘yung samahan,” Sales shared.Cruz, who smashed five homers at the Asian Cup in China last July, is determined to prove herself on the SEA Games stage. “Gusto ko ipakita na kaya ko makipagsabayan,” she said.While the Blu Girls topped Indonesia for gold in 2019, Santiago sees Singapore as this year’s biggest threat, citing their extensive preparations in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan.The Philippines opens against Singapore on December 15, then faces Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia before the gold medal game on December 20.Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president John Henry Lhuillier’s marching order is clear: go for double gold in both women’s and men’s softball. “That’s the goal,”  Santiago affirmed.

The UST Growling Tigers will be missing a key weapon in their UAAP Season 88 opener as star guard Forthsky Padrigao serves a one-game suspension.Padrigao is sidelined for UST’s clash against reigning champions, the UP Fighting Maroons, on Sunday, September 21, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. His suspension stems from the two unsportsmanlike fouls he committed in last season’s Final Four matchup versus UP, where the Tigers bowed out, 78-69.

In the world of collegiate volleyball, some stars shine quietly, only to blaze brightly when the time is right. Jhasmin Gayle Pascual, born on August 3, 1999, is one such star—a powerful opposite hitter whose journey with the Benilde Lady Blazers became a story of resilience, dominance, and triumph.When Pascual first stepped onto the court for the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in NCAA Season 95, expectations were high. She was poised to make her mark—but fate had other plans. The season, like many sports events in 2020, came to an abrupt halt as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe. For Pascual and her teammates, it was a moment of heartbreak and uncertainty, a pause in what could have been a breakout year.But champions are not only defined by trophies—they are also shaped by how they bounce back.Two years later, the NCAA returned with renewed vigor in Season 97. The Lady Blazers came back with something to prove, and Pascual emerged as one of their most vital weapons. With her powerful spikes and unshakable composure, she led the team to their second NCAA title—their first since Season 90. Her performance earned her the Finals Most Valuable Player award, a fitting recognition for someone who had waited years for her moment.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Gilas Pilipinas national team are in a holding pattern as they await word from FIBA regarding the status of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, originally slated to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17.The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Gilas Pilipinas are awaiting word from FIBA officials if the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 will push through in Jeddah as there is a tension rising between Iran and Israel.The tournament’s staging is now uncertain amid growing tensions in the Middle East, particularly the escalating conflict involving Iran and Israel. With safety concerns looming, national federations and participating teams are left in a state of limbo, including the Philippines, which is among the 16 teams set to compete.

Chezka Centeno started playing billiards at the age of five, and her potential was discovered at eight when she competed in local tournaments in her family's hometown.At age 11, she began participating in the Philippine National Games. A year later, she was invited to the Kremlin Cup in Russia, where she finished in the top 32.In 2014, Centeno competed in the Asian Junior Championship and won first place in the girls' singles category.The following year, she claimed the gold medal in the nine-ball women's singles at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, defeating fellow Filipina Rubilen Amit in the final.

Imports are essential for the league as they bring dynamics to each team that they play for and local players will have a glimpse on how to play with international players. In the Governors’ Cup, the usual third conference of the league that allows each team to get one reinforcement, will be the first conference to be held by the PBA this year.This year, the conference will have a 6’6” height limit for imports - a little difference from the 6’5” limit from last year.They will also bring excitement to the fans as some of the imports are former NBA players whom they can only watch from television before but now they can have a chance to watch them live in the basketball venues.

The UAAP Season 88 basketball tips off this Saturday, following a Paskuhan-inspired grand opening at UST. League commissioner Jai Reyes announced the adoption of FIBA standards in officiating, with a pool of international-level referees and the innovation of mic’d-up officials for assessment and grading. "I'm proud to say that we are having in our pool most of the FIBA referees that represent the Philippines in international competitions. One exciting development would be we would be mic'ing up our referees not yet for broadcast purposes."  Reyes said. "Reyes aims to elevate both officiating and game quality across the league."We want our referees to be just like our players for them to improve yearly so we can make our product on the court the best as possible," he added.Men’s basketball opens September 20 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, featuring FEU vs. Ateneo and Adamson vs. DLSU. The women’s division starts September 24, highlighted by Ateneo-UE and UP-Adamson matchups."Last year we ventured out and said, 'Let's put together a batch of homegrown correspondents, eight correspondents from all eight schools.' We're happy to note, we'll get to do that again," Cignal Sports Content Head Mico Halili said during the press conference. The UAAP continues its all-homegrown coverage initiative, with student correspondents from each member school and the debut of four new analysts—Camille Clarin, Jed Colonia, Paul Zamar, and Kenneth Tuffin—ensuring broad school representation on the broadcast panel."And because students from school saw that their classmates or batchmates and schoolmates were covering for UE, and NU, and Adamson, we saw an upsurge in the number of applicants who auditioned this year," he added.With improved officiating, stronger student involvement, and fresh analyst insights, UAAP Season 88 promises to deliver a dynamic and elevated basketball experience for fans.Meanwhile, UAAP representatives stressed the importance of proper medical testing and clearance for student-athletes before competition. While equipment and facilities are in place, organizers underscored that diligence over “each and every line” of safety protocols remains a priority.“These are the minimal requirements. Documentation that student-athletes have either taken tests or have been cleared fit to play is essential. We just want to make sure everything is in order.”  said Atty. Saguisag. Beyond safety, excitement is also building for the new season’s sporting calendar, particularly in men’s volleyball. The league confirmed that Season 88 will feature guest teams and an expanded volleyball competition under the banner of the International Men’s Volleyball Championship.“We are excited because this is the best of the best,” Atty. Saguisag added “Even during the opening, we want to bring the level of competition higher. I cannot imagine the energy this will bring to UAAP campuses.”With Season 87 considered historic, UAAP leaders are determined to push Season 88 “to another level”

Terrafirma Dyip has confirmed its participation in the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 50th season, but the franchise remains officially up for sale. PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said management is committed to competing this season while keeping the door open for potential buyers. “We talked to Terrafirma management. They’re committed to perform their best and they’re committed to stay, but they also said that they are for sale,” Vargas saidCommissioner Willie Marcial noted that although there is interest from several groups, none have made concrete moves yet.“Hindi lang natin alam kung gaano ka-interesado ang mga ito. Kaya parang hanging ang Terrafirma,” Marcial said. The franchise has previously come close to being sold, with talks involving Starhorse Shipping Lines and Zamboanga Valientes eventually falling through. League legal counsel Ogie Narvasa stressed stricter vetting for future applicants.“Remember we have two interested applicants, but we had problems with submission of requirements. So we have to be a little more careful in vetting the companies that are interested to join the PBA,” Narvasa said.“So they’re committed to stay until there’s really a buyer,” Narvasa added.For now, Terrafirma is gearing up for the new season, having drafted Geo Chiu as the No. 1 overall pick and appointing Ronald Tubid as head coach. The team remains focused on preparations while awaiting any developments regarding a possible sale.“Let’s see what happens,” Vargas concluded.

Two of the country's Filipina fighters secured victories in their fights this past weekend.Muay Thai fighter Islay Erika Bomogao clinched her second win after winning a unanimous decision against her opponent, Chinese fighter Ran Longshu, at ONE Friday Fights 93 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday night, January 10.In the opening round of their match, her Chinese opponent immediately showed aggression, but Bomogao showed her defense and immediately hit the Chinese fighter with a series of combo punches until she finally gained the advantage over her opponent.With the win, Bomogao now has a 2-0 win-loss record.Meanwhile, mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga made history by defeating Ukrainian grappler Alyona Rassohyna via second-round technical knockout on Saturday, January 11, in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 27 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.Zamboanga is now the first Filipina mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter to win the ONE Championship crown and an impressive win over the women’s MMA atomweight title.To secure the victory, the 27-year-old Filipina fighter used her striking skills with well-aimed punches and good grappling defense to overcome Rassohyna, who tried to use her for Zamboanga.The referee stopped the fight at 4:47 after Zamboanga landed elbows and ground and pound punches and was able to break through Rassohyna’s ankle lock attempt.Zamboanga couldn't believe her victory, which she had been hoping for for years, and now her efforts have paid off.“I’ve been aiming for this gold for years. I’m not here for short notice or something, I’ve made this from hard work, tears and everything. The delays and injuries, I’ve had a lot of injuries. Last two weeks ago I couldn’t move my left arm. But I didn’t want to cancel the fight because I know God will give me this belt. Thank you for giving me this opportunity,”  Zamboanga said. Because of her impressive win, she will now be able to fight for the unification bout against the regular champion of her division, Stamp Fairtex. “I really deserve to fight stamp because I proved it (in this fight) by finishing my opponent’,” Zamboanga added.

Petro Gazz Angels star Brooke Van Sickle capped a sensational 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference campaign by claiming her third Most Valuable Player award at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, November 30. Less than an hour after steering the Angels past ZUS Coffee in the finals, Van Sickle received the league’s top individual honor, solidifying her status as one of the league’s all-time greats.Already a back-to-back MVP in the last two All-Filipino Conferences, Van Sickle joins Creamline icons Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos as the only three-time winners in league history. She also earned her second Best Outside Spiker award, finishing second among local scorers and 10th overall with 160 points. Van Sickle ranked ninth in spiking at 35.48% and eighth in digs with 3.23 per set, proving her dominance on both ends of the court.For ZUS Coffee, Anna DeBeer was recognized as Best Foreign Guest Player after a standout performance that helped the Thunderbelles reach their first-ever PVL Finals. The former University of Louisville standout tallied 210 points on 197 attacks, added eight blocks and five aces, and ranked third in both spiking (39.40%) and receiving (45.68%).Other notable awardees included Savi Davison of PLDT, who claimed Best Outside Spiker honors. Davison led all local scorers with 178 points, ranked second in blocking at 0.71 per set, and placed sixth in spiking at 36.86%.Trisha Tubu of Farm Fresh earned Best Opposite Spiker, finishing as the league’s top spiker at 39.53% and 13th overall in scoring with 116 points.At the net, Maddie Madayag of Choco Mucho was recognized as Best Middle Blocker, leading the league with 29 blocks, including a single-game pro record-tying 10 denials against ZUS Coffee. Pangs Panaga of Creamline also took home a Best Middle Blocker award, tallying 20 kill blocks for her ninth career recognition.Cloanne Mondoñedo of ZUS Coffee claimed Best Setter, topping the league with 6.24 excellent sets per set. Meanwhile, Thang Ponce of Choco Mucho continued her defensive mastery as Best Libero, earning her fifth career award while leading the league in receiving at 55.42% and finishing third in digs with 4.46 per set.Rounding out the awardees was AC Miner of ZUS Coffee, who was named Rookie of the Conference. Miner ranked eighth in blocking at 0.55 per set and finished second among all rookies in scoring with 82 points.The 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference highlighted both individual brilliance and team excellence, with Van Sickle’s historic third MVP award and Petro Gazz’s third conference crown cementing their dominance in Philippine volleyball. Meanwhile, the emergence of rising stars such as AC Miner and Trisha Tubu signals a bright future for the league.

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour — Nuvali Futures concluded on a high note on Sunday, May 4, after four days of thrilling action on the sand that saw top-tier talent from around the world collide with fierce competition.In the women’s division, it was Shaunna Polley and Olivia Macdonald of New Zealand who stood tallest, claiming gold after an impressive campaign. The Kiwi pair displayed superior teamwork and consistent play throughout the tournament, culminating in a finals’ victory, 21-18, 21-14, over Japan’s Sakura Ito and Mayu Sawame, who clinched silver.Meanwhile, the bronze medal went to Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite. They outplayed Romania’s Beata Vaida and Francesca Ioana Alupei, 21-19, 19-21, 19-17, in the third-place match to round out the podium.

The Northport Batang Pier exhibited steady resolve as they nailed their first win against Ginebra in five years following a thrilling 119-116 victory on Wednesday, January 8, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.The Batang Pier maintained their lead in the rankings, hiking a 7-1 win-loss record, demonstrating the kind of resolute effort typically seen by traditional contenders.

The Hong Kong Eastern captured their third straight victory in the East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 Home-and-Away season against the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday night, January 15, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.Eastern started the game with an 11-1 run and finished the opening period with a 30-11 lead, highlighted by slam dunks and three-point play opportunities.The Beermen tried to bounce back in the second period as Jericho Cruz, June Mar Fajardo, and Don Trollano led SMB's 8-2 blast to trim down the lead, but HKE weathered the storm and still had a 16-point lead at the half.In the third canto, SMB cut down the lead once again to 10 but the grit of the Hong Kong team was too much as they brought a 20-point advantage entering the fourth quarter of play, 50-70.

After a 7–11 finish in Season 100 (5th place), the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA ALTAs head into Season 101 with renewed energy and ambition. Following Olsen Racela’s debut campaign as head coach, the ALTAs are beefing up their roster and aiming to bridge the gap between hopeful and contender.The ALTAs will be without Christian Pagaran, but retain returning contributors John Abis, JP Boral, and Mark Gojo Cruz, who bring experience and stability to the lineup.To complement them, Perpetual has brought in fresh blood: Patrick Sleat, one of Racela’s former standouts from FEU, arrives with both confidence and familiarity with the system. Promising junior standouts JD Pagulayan and Jan Roluna, both crowned champions in the High School ALTAs program, step up to the collegiate level and aim to carry forward their winning culture. Additional names, Josiah Alcantara, Aries Borja, Kenji Duremdes, Angelo Gelsano, Kevin Guibao, Kyle Magdangal, Ray Allen Maglupay, Jearico Nuñez, Shawn Orgo, Emmanuel Pizzaro, and JM Tulabut, round out the depth chart, each adding dimension or potential to the squad.With this mix, the ALTAs hope to become deeper, more versatile, and better equipped to navigate a more unforgiving competitive landscape.