A new ruling by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) halted Jaja Santiago’s aspiration to suit up for the Japan national women’s volleyball team. Jaja Santiago, who recently acquired Japanese citizenship and now goes by the name of Minowa Sachi, is ineligible to play for Japan based on a new FIVB rule that will prevent her from transferring from another federation.Newly-elected president of Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Ramon “Tats” Suzara explained the technicalities, citing once a player suits up for one country’s national team, they can no longer do so for another nation.

Magnolia Hotshots new import Shabazz Muhammad sank a running shot with 8.1 seconds remaining in the game to overcome the gritty Terrafirma Dyip, 99-98, and kept them in the solo third place of Group in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.The two teams traded clutch baskets in the final seconds of the game.Paul Lee drained a four-pointer to give the Hotshots a two-point lead, 97-95. In the next play, Dyip’s rookie Paolo Hernandez sank a step-back triple that brought his team back with the lead, 98-97. But the last laugh belonged to Muhammad when he delivered the winning basket with 7.8 seconds left in the game.Kevin Ferrer has one last say but his desperation three was way off the mark as Terrafirma stayed winless in the conference.It was also the 19th straight win of the Magnolia against Terrafirma since July 15, 2016. The Dyip was still called Mahindra Enforcer by then while the Hotshots were named Star.

Calvin Oftana scored a team-high 25 points, while Kelly Williams and Jayson Castro provided veteran-smarts in TNT Tropang Giga’s 108-99 win over Meralco on Thursday night in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The trio powered the Tropang Giga from a mere 100-97 lead into a more comfortable 106-97 cushion with 50 seconds of play remaining.Oftana’s 25 points (eight in the fourth quarter) included sinking six three-pointers, grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing off three assists.TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also helped out by producing 22 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.Jayson Castro contributed 12 markers, four boards and four dimes, while Kelly Williams scored nine points in his 15:45 playing time, and did his usual job in the defensive end.

The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters finally clinched a victory in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup when they defeated Blackwater Bossing, 119-114 on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.Import Brandone Francis and veteran RR Garcia gave the lift for the Fuel masters in the end game to get their first ever victory of the season.Francis scored a team-high 23 points, including seven in the last 49 seconds of play to put an end to the run of Bossing, which had a 20-point third quarter deficit.Garcia played a vital role too by contributing 16 of his 20 total points in the final canto when Blackwater came within 98-102 with 6:42 remaining in the game.Three more Fuel Masters scored in double figures to get their important win. Jason Perkins tallied 19 markers while Ricci Rivero added 14 and rookie Kai Ballungay had 12.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters denied the NLEX Road Warriors a game win as Adrian Nocum delivered a late-game surge to secure a hard-fought 123-114 overtime victory in the 2024 PBA Governor’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, September 17.The Elasto Painters bounced back from their beatdown from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as they bravely conquered the standout performances of Road Warriors import DeQuan Jones posting a 49-point explosion and Robert Bolick tallying 28 markers, 11 boards, and nine assists. Adrian Nocum steered the overtime gameplay as he dropped seven points that gave the team a six-point cushion at 120-114. Anton Asistio then made the final say after making his 25th point, sealing the team’s sixth win. 

The National University Lady Bulldogs powered its way to a 76-44 victory after clamping the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball tournament on Wednesday, September 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.The Lady Bulldogs unleashed a strong third quarter after settling for a tied 41 points at the half-time break, tallying 16 unanswered points for a 62-43 cushion heading into the final frame. The Lady Maroons endured the scoring drought and just managed to basket two points from the free-throw line courtesy of Alex Mendoza and Achrissa Maw.  

Rubilen Amit concluded her campaign after finishing third in the 2024 World Pool Association (WPA) 9-Ball China Open in Shanghai over the weekend.Amit, who recently reigned supreme in the WPA World Women’s 9-Ball Championship, managed to reach the semifinals, seeking to add another crown in her collection, but eventually bowed out to China’s Han Yu, 9-3.The hometown bet was just too tough as the Chinese went on to win their bout and eventually claimed the win against compatriot Wang Xiaotong for a $36,000 win.Prior to her semifinals defeat, Amit prevailed over Bojana Sarac of Serbia (7-5), Silviana Lu of Indonesia (72), veteran Jasmin Ouschan of Austria (9-3), and Chihiro Kawahara of Japan (9-5) in the earlier rounds. Chezka Centeno, on the other hand, absorbed a 9-8 loss against Chieh-Yu Chou in the Round of 16. Carlos Biado and Jeffrey de Luna also withdrew from the men’s competition.