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Norman Black is set to coach the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s team in the upcoming 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, scheduled from December 9 to 20.

Current Gilas head coach Tim Cone earlier announced that he would not be able to call the shots for the SEA Games due to a scheduling conflict with the 2025–26 PBA Philippine Cup, which will be in full swing during the tournament. Cone will instead focus on steering the national team in the opening window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers from November 24 to December 2.

With Cone stepping aside, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) tapped Black to take over. The 66-year-old veteran coach currently serves as the federation’s head of player identification and development and also works as a consultant for the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA.

A few days ago, Jelena Todorovic made history by becoming the first female head coach in Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB)—Brazil’s top-tier men’s professional basketball league.

At just 31 years old, the Serbian-Australian tactician becomes the first woman to lead a men’s pro team in Brazil and the second youngest head coach in NBB history. She was officially appointed by Fortaleza Basquete Cearense, who proudly announced:

“HISTORIC! Jelena Todorovic is the new Head Coach of Fortaleza Basquete Cearense!”

The dream of achieving a rare Grand Slam lives on for the TNT Tropang 5G as they defeated the San Miguel Beermen in Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals, 86-78, on Wednesday night, July 23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

TNT came out strong from the get-go, building a 27-20 lead in the opening quarter, led by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who exploded for 14 points in the first period. He finished with 18 points, five rebounds, one assist, three steals, and a game-high five blocks.

Kevin Quiambao has returned to the Gilas Pilipinas lineup after spending a month in the United States pursuing his NBA aspirations. The former UAAP MVP was back at national team practice at The Upper Deck in Pasig City this Monday, July 21, as Gilas ramps up preparations for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.

Quiambao trained in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas throughout July. Although he didn’t secure a spot in the NBA Summer League, he participated in a private scrimmage organized by Excel Sports Management, attended by NBA scouts and executives.

Now in peak condition, Quiambao wasted no time rejoining Gilas as the squad continues its buildup for the continental tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5-17.

Joining Quiambao in the latest practice were Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, Chris Newsome, and Jamie Malonzo.

June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, and Calvin Oftana are expected to return to training after the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, where San Miguel currently holds a 3-1 lead over TNT.

Strong Group Athletics-Philippines capped off a flawless 8-0 run at the William Jones Cup, clinching an emphatic 87-62 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Sunday at Xinzhuang Gymnasium.

With the title already secured ahead of the final game, the Filipinos left no doubt, sealing back-to-back championships and the country’s eighth overall Jones Cup crown.

“We’re happy to win another championship. We never take anything for granted, now a two-time Jones Cup champion with Strong Group. “Our bosses go all out to support us every time we represent the country.” said coach Charles Tiu.

UAE kept things close in the first half, trailing by just one at the break, 37-36. But Strong Group broke the game open in the third quarter behind a surge from Tajuan Agee and Allen Liwag. Kiefer Ravena and Dave Ildefonso delivered big shots in the fourth to put the game away.

Agee paced the team with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Ravena contributed 13 points and 9 assists, while DJ Fenner and Ian Miller scored 12 each. Ildefonso added 10 points. Andre Roberson, who starred throughout the tournament, sat out the finale.

The Filipinos dominated the second half, outscoring UAE 50-26, and extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games over the last two Jones Cup editions. Their run included wins over top teams like Chinese-Taipei Blue, Japan Developmental, Qatar, Australia’s NBL1 Rising Stars, Malaysia, and Bahrain.

Coach Tiu praised his squad’s chemistry and commitment: “It’s special because I don’t know if we’ll have this group again. But these guys were willing to sacrifice—something that’s very rare.”

The San Miguel Beermen are just one win away from reclaiming their throne atop the PBA, taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the TNT Tropang 5G in the Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals. San Miguel powered past TNT, 105-91, Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Jericho Cruz was the catalyst for the Beermen, exploding for 23 points—15 of them in the pivotal fourth quarter—sinking five triples. Conference Best Player June Mar Fajardo added a double-double of 15 points, 16 rebounds, plus three steals and two blocks.

“The biggest factor was Game 1. It fueled our grit—you could see in our players’ eyes that they want to win. We had a bad start, but the bench brought energy and aggression. This was also the first time we really shot well from deep, and that was key,” said head coach Leo Austria.

Cruz also reflected on the controversial Game 1 loss, which continues to motivate the team. “We thought we had that first game, but that’s behind us now. Boss Alfrancis Chua told me to just play my game and ignore the outside noise.”

CJ Perez chipped in 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds, Don Trollano contributed 11 points, six boards, and three assists, while Marcio Lassiter added 10 points for San Miguel.

The Beermen will aim to clinch the Best-of-7 series and dash TNT’s Grand Slam hopes on Wednesday, July 23, at the Araneta Coliseum.

The game remained tight at 73-72 with just over eight minutes left, but Cruz drilled a crucial three to extend San Miguel’s lead. Although RR Pogoy quickly answered, Cruz and Trollano took over, pushing the Beermen ahead 84-79. 

Fajardo and Perez then combined for back-to-back buckets, stretching the lead to nine. TNT’s Glenn Khobuntin managed an and-one to cut the deficit to six, but that was as close as TNT would get.

Jordan Heading paced TNT with 23 points and five assists, while Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser scored 14 apiece. RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana added 11 each. 

However, nothing could stop San Miguel, as TNT dropped its third straight game after narrowly winning Game 1.

For the first time in history, the Gilas Pilipinas Women are poised to chase a spot in the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

The Filipinas clinched a berth in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament after narrowly defeating Lebanon, 73-70, during the group stage of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Wednesday, July 16, at the Shenzhen Sports Center in Shenzhen, China.

This crucial win propelled the Philippines into the quarterfinals of the Women’s Asia Cup and guaranteed them an automatic place in the World Cup qualifiers, courtesy of a secured top-six finish in the tournament.

“This win represents everything that we’ve been working hard for in the last 10 years or so. We’re glad to be competing and not just staying in Division A, but we still have to improve and we hope we level up again soon,” said Gilas Women’s head coach Pat Aquino.

Five Gilas players scored in double figures in the hard-fought victory, led by Naomi Panganiban’s 15 points, highlighted by two clutch free throws with just 8.3 seconds left.

Sumayah Sugapong iced two crucial free throws at the 2:18 mark in the fourth quarter to give the Philippines a 71-66 lead, but Lebanon clawed back, trimming the deficit to just 71-69 with 1:15 to play. After Sugapong missed a potential game-sealing three, Lebanon’s Jillian Archer split her free throws, making it 71-70 with under a minute remaining.

Panganiban then calmly knocked down her pressure-packed free throws to stretch the lead to 73-70, and Lebanon failed to attempt a game-tying three as time expired.

Sugapong and Jack Animam each added 14 points for Gilas, with Animam also hauling down a game-high 16 rebounds. Vanessa de Jesus chipped in 13 points, while Kacey dela Rosa contributed 10, helping the team withstand blowing a 17-point first-quarter lead.

The Philippines overcame a stellar performance from Archer, who tallied a game-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 10 rebounds for Lebanon.

Gilas Women finished third in Group B with a 1-2 record. They will take a one-day break on Thursday, July 17, before facing the No. 2 seed from Group A in the quarterfinals on Friday, July 18, at 4:30 pm.

The Scores:

PHILIPPINES 73 – Panganiban 15, Sugapong 14, Animam 14, De Jesus 13, Dela Rosa 10, Pastrana 7, Castillo 0, Fajardo 0, Surada 0, Ozar 0, Pagdulagan 0.

LEBANON 70 – Archer 23, Akl 13, Elias 10, Mansour 7, Naassan 6, Ghaleb 6, Fayad 3, Labban 2, Raffoul 0.

Quarters: 29-12, 41-37, 55-57, 73-70.

The San Miguel Beermen have tied the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals at 1-1 after defeating the TNT Tropang 5G, 98-92, in Game 2 on Wednesday, July 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Don Trollano delivered a breakout performance off the bench, tallying 22 points on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting from the floor. He also grabbed six rebounds and handed out an assist, leading San Miguel's charge to equalize the series.

June Mar Fajardo provided solid support with 17 markers, nine boards, three dimes, and one steal. Mo Tautuaa also stepped up, sealing the win with a wide-open layup to close the game without any controversy. He ended with 16 points and four rebounds.

Jeron Teng made his presence felt with 10 markers—all in the first half—while assistant playing coach Chris Ross showcased his trademark leadership and defensive intensity, wrapping up the game with seven points, four rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.

After a close Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals — marred by the “basket interference” controversy — protagonists San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G now focus on winning Game 2.

San Miguel, the winningest franchise in PBA history, will try to tie the series at 1-1 while moving past their opening game loss, which was clouded by the PBA technical committee’s review of Mo Tautuaa’s dunk.

They will once again bank on the dominance of eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, along with CJ Perez and the rest of the squad, to get the equalizer.

While the San Miguel–Ginebra series went the distance to decide the last Finals berth, the TNT Tropang 5G’s early entry into the championship round gave their players time to heal.

The last two Finals MVPs of the grand slam-seeking TNT squad will still not be suiting up. Jayson Castro (Governors’ Cup Finals MVP) continues to recover from a full-thickness patellar tendon tear in his right knee, while Rey Nambatac (Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP) remains sidelined with a groin injury.

Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Kelly Williams, and Brian Heruela also dealt with injuries throughout the Philippine Cup, but all are possible to return in the Finals.

Rain or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao expressed confidence in the team's future, despite the disappointment of another semifinal exit.

“We couldn't close it out, we couldn't make the big plays when we needed them most.

But we still look at it as a positive development for the team. I think it adds to the experience and knowledge of our young players.”

He firmly believes that rather than a sweeping overhaul, the current roster simply requires targeted enhancements, particularly with the anticipated return of key players Beau Belga, Luis Villegas, and Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti from injury.

It will be the best two words in sports for the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel series, while TNT Tropang 5G kept their grand slam hopes alive after dismantling the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in six games on Sunday, July 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jordan Heading exploded for 29 points, to go along with three rebounds, four assists, and two steals to lead TNT in securing the pivotal win that put them back in the PBA Finals for the third straight conference this season and gave them a chance to claim the first-ever grand slam in franchise history.

Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 17 markers, five boards, two dimes, and three rejections to help the Tropang 5G clinch the ticket to the championship round.

Three more TNT players poured in double digits in the team’s victory. Glenn Khobuntin finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Kim Aurin and Calvin Oftana ended with 13 and 12, respectively.

"All we wanted was to give ourselves a chance. Our objective after a 0-3 start was just to get to the playoffs. We were not even thinking of getting a twice-to-beat advantage getting to the playoffs, and we figured whoever it is we need to beat—and if we need to beat them twice—then so be it," said TNT head coach Chot Reyes of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup journey.

"Number two, we came together... and that's what happened. Everyone chipped in, stepped up. Unfortunately, we got all those injuries, but it is what it is. But as you saw today, these guys—they don't know the meaning of quit," he added.

San Miguel Beermen dominated Game 4 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 107-82, on Wednesday, June 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

CJ Perez led the charge for the Beermen, who unleashed a 17-0 run in the deciding period to secure the win and tie the series at 2-2. Perez finished with 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and a block in nearly 35 minutes of action.

He was followed by Juami Tiongson with 14 points and June Mar Fajardo, who added 12 markers, a game-high 19 boards, three assists, two steals, and a block to help San Miguel take the crucial victory.

Three other Beermen scored in double digits, with Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial contributing 12 points apiece, while Don Trollano added 11.

A crucial battle awaits on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where both teams aim to take a pivotal 3-2 series lead and move closer to the Finals.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel secured a 2-1 lead in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals against the San Miguel Beermen with a 100-90 win on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

RJ Abarrientos stepped up big, delivering an almost triple-double performance of 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists to lead the Gin Kings in regaining the upper hand.

Jamie Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar followed through with 20 and 18 markers, respectively. Malonzo also contributed four rebounds and two assists, while Aguilar had seven boards, two dimes, three steals, and two blocks.

Scottie Thompson and Stephen Holt also scored in double figures to help Ginebra clinch the Game 3 win. Thompson finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block, while Holt had 10 markers, seven boards, and one deflection.

The Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) officially launched its inaugural professional season on Sunday, June 29, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, marking a major milestone for Filipina athletes in the sport of basketball.

Six pioneering teams—Batangas New Zealand Bluefire, Pangasinan Solar Home Suns, RK Hoops Quezon City, Discovery Perlas Rizal, San Juan Lady Knights, and Tagaytay Tol Patriots—are taking part in the league’s first-ever pro season.

The opening ceremony featured a powerful message from SBP Executive Director Erika Dy, who highlighted the significance of the moment for women in sports.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters finally snatched a win in Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semi-finals series against the TNT Tropang 5G, 107-86, on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Anton Asistio scored a personal playoff-high 24 points to lead Rain or Shine in their first win of the best-of-seven affair. He also added six assists and a rebound to his stat line, shooting 7-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the four-point arc, in just 28 minutes and 11 seconds off the bench.

Caelan Tiongson followed with 16 markers, four boards, one assist, and a rejection, while Keith Datu tallied a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with two assists and one block.

Two more Elasto Painters scored in double figures—Leonard Santillan finished with 12 markers on top of eight boards, one assist, and one deflection, while Andrei Caracut added 10 points, four assists, and four steals.

As expected, the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Flagg is now expected to elevate the Mavericks franchise to new heights following the departure of former franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić, who was traded to Los Angeles before last season's trade deadline.

The move to let go of Dončić sparked backlash from fans, but with Flagg now in the fold, there’s renewed optimism in Dallas — especially with a lineup that looks increasingly solid on paper.

Down by as many as 18 points, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel still managed to take Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals against the San Miguel Beermen, 73–71, on Wednesday night, June 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Scottie Thompson was named Best Player of the Game after tallying 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, along with eight rebounds, one assist, and a steal.

Japeth Aguilar also provided steady production despite being in foul trouble, finishing with a team-high 18 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and a block. Jamie Malonzo added 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Roger Ray Pogoy poured in 28 points to lead the TNT Tropang 5G past the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 98-91, in Game 1 of their Semi-Finals series on Wednesday, June 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Aside from his 28 markers, the sharpshooting guard also grabbed two rebounds and dished out four assists while playing a game-high 36 minutes to anchor TNT’s victory.

Another battle for the ages is expected between the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as they begin their highly anticipated best-of-seven semi-finals series on Wednesday, June 25, at 7:30 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

These two PBA giants are no strangers to the big stage, and once again, they find themselves on a collision course—with pride, legacy, and redemption on the line.