Gilas Pilipinas will try to bounce back from its opening loss to Chinese Taipei in the 31st FIBA Asia Cup, currently being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.The Philippines faces the New Zealand Tall Blacks on Thursday at 11:00 p.m. (Manila time), hoping to move on from a disappointing 95-87 defeat a night earlier.It will be a tough assignment for the world No. 34-ranked squad as it takes on the 22nd-ranked New Zealand in a must-win battle to keep its quarterfinal hopes alive.

Three-time World Champion Pinay cue artist Rubilen Amit is set to be honored at the 2024 San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night, to be held on January 27 at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel.The Philippines became even more recognized in the world of billiards in 2024 when 43-year-old Amit claimed the prestigious WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Championship held in New Zealand last September 2024.Amit was the first Filipina pool player to become a global 9-ball champion where in 2007, she finished as a runner-up and made it to the semifinals in 2018 and 2019. With her 3-1 win over Chen Siming of China, she took the elusive crown for herself. Amit displayed her strategic thinking best during the crucial seventh game. She also won the WPA Women’s 10-Ball Championships two times, way back in 2009 and 2013. She encourages other women to pursue billiards through the Amit Cup she started, where amateur women players can compete in a tournament. Amit hopes that future generations of Filipinas will take up the mantle and prove that women are just as capable of excelling in this sport.

For San Beda University and its storied basketball history, the return of Yukien Andrada marks more than just another season, it’s a chance to recapture the crown before their veteran goes out on top. Andrada, who may have professional ambitions on his horizon, has made it clear that his immediate mission is guiding the Red Lions back to the throne in NCAA Season 101.The journey last year ended in heartbreak. San Beda’s title defense was cut short in the Final Four by a formidable Benilde squad, extinguishing hopes of consecutive banners. That loss has become fuel rather than setback, and this time around the Lions intend to roar louder.Andrada isn’t alone. Returning holdovers Jomel Puno, Bismarck Lina, and Penny Estacio, along with Nygel Gonzales, form the experienced core that will support him. The roster also brings back Bryan Sajonia, RC Calimag, Joe Celzo, JC Bonzalida, and Menard Songcuya, ensuring depth and continuity even as the team moves on from James Payosing, who transferred to the UAAP’s UP program.To supplement its veteran firepower, San Beda has added Agjanti Miller and MJ Vailoces to the fold. Rounding out the squad are Ismael Culdora, Zedljay Etulle, Kyle Jamora, Jimuel Reyes, and Ron Tolentino—young talent and role players primed to rise under pressure.

The Blazers know the sting of coming so close. Twice in the past three years, Benilde reached the NCAA finals only to see the title slip away. Now, entering Season 101, their aim is not just to shake off regrets but to end a 25-year championship drought.Central to that hope is MVP Allen Liwag, a force in the frontcourt whose leadership and production must anchor the team. This time, he brings reinforcement: Shawn Umali, SJ Moore, and Raffy Celis have committed themselves to the Blazers’ cause. Umali, a bruising presence from Lyceum, and Moore & Celis, both UAAP veterans, add depth, versatility, and fresh firepower.Alongside them, holdovers Justine Sanchez, Tony Ynot, and Gab Cometa return to lend experience and continuity. The roster is further bolstered by Jhomel Ancheta, Joshua Cajucom, Anton Eusebio, Matthew Oli, Jericho Jalalon, and Ian Torres, as well as contributors Bonn Daja, Irele Galas, Jake Gaspay, Jio Gonzaga and John Morales—all part of the Blazers’ Redemption Lineup.

Cignal bounced back from a tough loss and clinched the first outright quarterfinal berth in Pool B, defeating ZUS Coffee, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-16, in the PVL On Tour at the City of Passi Arena on Sunday.After dropping the third set and missing out on a sweep, the HD Spikers responded with a dominant fourth set. Erika Santos led the way with a stellar 30-point performance, blending power and creativity to guide Cignal to a one-hour, 51-minute victory.Cignal seized control early in the fourth, racing to a 6-2 lead with key contributions from Ishie Lalongisip, Jackie Acuña, Heather Guino-o, and playmaker Gel Cayuna. The team also capitalized on ZUS Coffee’s errors and showcased superb floor defense, anchored by libero Buding Duremdes.Santos sealed the win with a blistering down-the-line hit for her 30th point, pushing Cignal to match point. After a brief delay by a Chinnie Arroyo hit, Cignal closed out the match by winning a floor touch challenge.The win lifted Cignal to a 4-1 record and secured their place at the top of group play, guaranteeing a spot in the quarterfinals. Despite her standout performance, Santos credited the team.“We prepared hard for this. Yesterday, we were a bit off, but this time we stayed composed and just enjoyed the game. Everyone sacrificed.” said Santos. Lalongisip and Acuña added 15 and 11 points, respectively, while Roselyn Doria-Aquino, Tin Tiamzon, and Cayuna all contributed on both ends. Cayuna also tallied 27 excellent sets, outplaying her counterpart Cloanne Mondonedo.For ZUS Coffee, Arroyo topscored with 20 points, while Chai Troncoso, Fiola Ceballos, and rookie AC Miner provided support.Cignal’s firepower was evident as they outgunned ZUS Coffee, 71-49, and controlled the net with a 9-5 edge in blocks, overcoming their 23 unforced errors. ZUS Coffee, meanwhile, committed 15 errors of their own.After falling behind 0-2, the Thunderbelles rallied in the third set, fueled by Arroyo’s attacks and a timely timeout by coach Jerry Yee. However, Cignal shut the door in the fourth, refusing to let the match extend to a fifth set.A five-day break now awaits before the action resumes in Cebu City on Saturday, July 26, with Nxled taking on PLDT and Galeries Tower facing Farm Fresh at the USJ-R Coliseum. 

Petro Gazz soared past Choco Mucho, 25-20, 26-28, 25-21, 25-16, capping the first day of the Premier Volleyball League’s All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, November 9, at Philsports Arena in Pasig.Brooke Van Sickle powered the Angels, erupting 34 points anchored on 28 attacks, four aces, and two kill blocks, while also putting up 14 excellent digs. 

A well-balanced offense pushed the Converge FiberXers to a 127-109 victory over Blackwater Bossing on Sunday, January 19, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, securing sole second place in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.As the FiberXers edged closer to a playoff incentive with an 8-3 record, 6-foot-9 big man Justine Baltazar delivered an impressive play for the team, recording a new career-high 20 points along with 10 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks to earn him Best Player of the Game plum.Jordan Heading provided firepower, leading the charge for Converge with 22 markers, from 3 out of 5 shooting, along with five dimes, and three boards.

De La Salle University began its 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge campaign with a dominant 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 sweep of Arellano University on Sunday, August 10, at the Paco Arena in Manila.The 2023 champions showcased their depth, wrapping up the win in just 83 minutes. Rookie Issa Ousseini and wing spikers Eugene Gloria and MJ Fortuna each scored 14 points, while setter Nathaniel Bangit orchestrated the offense with 20 excellent sets.“At first, I was a bit unsure because during training and practice games, they weren’t too consistent,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque. “But seeing this first game somehow gave me confidence that we can actually do more. Some of our players haven’t even played yet, so I’m already seeing potential for the UAAP season. I just hope they all step up.”Arellano stayed competitive behind AC Guinto’s 13 markers but couldn’t match La Salle’s strong finish in each set.

Just weeks after his decisive win against Mexico’s Francisco Portillo on May 31, undefeated Filipino boxer Carl Jammes Martin made sure to attend worship services of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ)—a commitment he never fails to keep, no matter the circumstance.In his Facebook post, Martin said: “Wherever we go, we will find a chapel and we will fulfill our duty to the Father.”Martin joined the worship service of the local congregation in Los Angeles, California, showing his continued devotion and gratitude to the Lord God following his latest victory in the ring.For the 25-year-old rising star, putting trust in the Lord God is essential—especially as he pursues continued success in his boxing career.He demonstrates this by always attending worship services, staying united with the Church Administration, and submitting to its guidance—a trait he shares with many Filipino athletes who attribute their success to their faith.He is one of many Filipino boxers who exhibit this same devotion—never forgetting to give respect and gratitude to the true giver of victories, especially to His chosen ones, in every fight inside the ring.Martin currently holds a clean record of 26-0 (Win-Loss) with 20 knockouts and remains active in the junior featherweight division after his win over Portillo.

The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 will begin on September 12 with the opening match between the host nation, the Philippines, and Tunisia at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.The 64th-ranked Philippine men’s volleyball team will play world No. 24 Tunisia, an 11-time African champion, to round out the largest edition of the global tournament.After its tournament debut, Alas will take a four-day break before starting its home campaign against the current African champion and world No. 20 Egypt.The host team will play Iran, the second-highest ranked Asian team, on September 18 to wrap up pool play in what may be a make-or-break matchup for a berth in the Round of 16.The remaining eight-pool, 32-team field will be divided across the Pasay City site  and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.Pools D featuring USA, E piloted by Slovenia, and H starring Brazil will play at the MOA Arena with Alas and Pool A.Meanwhile, Pool B with top-ranked Poland, C with second-seeded France, F with powerhouse Italy and G with fan-favorite Japan will stage pool play at the Big Dome.The knockout stage will take place in Pasay over eight days, from September 20 to September 28.

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.

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team dominated Maldives, 4-1, in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers during their rainy Tuesday evening clash.Jefferson Tabinas scored the first goal in the 15th minute of the match, held at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.A few minutes later, Bjorn Kristensen doubled the Philippines’ lead, making it 2-0 by the end of the first half.Entering the second half, Ali Fasir of Maldives found the net in the 62nd minute, narrowing the score to 2-1.In the following minutes, Randy Schneider made a spectacular debut, scoring in the 77th minute to extend the lead to 3-1. Later, in the 92nd minute, he assisted in setting up another goal. His first international goal provided the Philippines with a crucial cushion, securing the maximum three points in the final phase of the continental qualifiers."You can see it in the game—I felt good. The Philippines has welcomed me since day one, so I hope I can continue like this," Schneider said.Meanwhile, Sandro Reyes sealed the game at 4-1, scoring the final goal and carrying the hopes of Filipino football fans. His crucial contribution came when it mattered most.Coach Albert Capellas expressed his delight and satisfaction with the team's performance against Maldives.He emphasized the importance of winning to qualify, noting that starting strong in the tournament was essential."Job done. These are the types of games we need to win if we want to qualify. It's always important to start with a win. With the point advantage, we are on top, and we can't wait to face Tajikistan next," Capellas said.The PMNFT now holds a 1-0 record and will face Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, and Maldives again in the double-round robin format, which will conclude in March 2026.

The long wait is over. After receiving a green light from his doctor, Joshua “The Passion” is now cleared and ready for some training and action to face him for the third time and close the book against Jarred Brooks in ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship unification at ONE 171 on February 20, 2025.This third showdown between the two talented rivals is set to take place at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar where they once met and fought last March of this year.

As the reigning NCAA champions, the Mapúa Cardinals step into Season 101 with a target firmly on their backs. Every opponent will be eager to knock them off the throne, making each game a battle of pride and precision. Their opening assignment against the Lyceum Pirates is already being billed as a statement game, a chance for Mapúa to show that last season’s breakthrough was no fluke. With the new group-stage format limiting room for error, the Cardinals know they cannot afford early slipups if they want to stay in control of their title defense.One of Mapúa’s biggest strengths is the championship confidence they now carry. The team has already proven it can thrive under the brightest lights, and that winning culture should give them an edge in close contests. Clint Escamis, who delayed his professional dreams to lead the Cardinals one last time, provides the leadership and stability that every championship-caliber squad needs. Alongside him, veterans like JC Recto, Yam Concepcion, and Cyrus Cuenco give the team balance and continuity, while new additions like Cyril Gonzales, Cyrus Nitura, and Icee Callangan bring fresh talent into the rotation.

Filipina mixed martial artist Islay Erika Bomogao will fight for the second time in ONE Friday Fights 93  on January 10, to be held at the Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand.The Igorota Muay Thai fighter will face Chinese fighter Ran Longshu under the 101-pound catchweight Muay Thai.The fight between Bomogao and Longshu is one of 12 fights lined up this Friday, and she is the first Philippine fighter to see action at ONE Championship in 2025.Last year, Bombogao became world number 1 in the 45kg female elite division of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA). She also defeated Fuu in her dazzling debut fight last November 2024, where she got a clear-cut unanimous decision win.Her first experience on the stage of Muay Thai gave her the thirst and she wanted to get back in the saddle.  

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is back in action and making headlines once again — this time not just for her powerful play, but also for achieving a new career milestone. Fresh off her historic run at the Miami Open, the 19-year-old continues to climb the WTA rankings and now enters the clay court season with momentum on her side.As of April 14, Eala has officially reached a career-high world ranking of No. 72, gaining three spots since her sensational semi final-finish in Miami. Starting that tournament as World No. 140, she shocked the tennis world by taking down some of the biggest names in the game — including Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and top seed Iga Swiatek — before narrowly falling to Jessica Pegula in a gritty three-set match.Now, after a short break from competition, Eala returns to the court at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, her first appearance on clay this season. Notably, she enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed — a first for the young star in any WTA-level event.

Five years ago, Mario Barrios would have been the perfect matchup for eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. At 6’0 tall and not the most agile, Barrios embodies the type of fighter that Pacquiao excelled against in his prime—tall, flat-footed, and susceptible to quick movements and speed.Pacquiao is also the first boxer in history to win major world titles in four of the original eight weight classes of boxing: flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.Throughout his storied career, the 5-foot-5 Filipino superstar consistently took down larger opponents like Oscar De La Hoya and Antonio Margarito, utilizing his signature speed and footwork to deliver quick combinations before slipping away from their reach.However, that was a different time.Now, at 46 years old, Pacquiao hasn’t been in the ring professionally for four years. His last fight—a unanimous decision defeat against Yordenis Ugas in 2021—revealed signs of wear and tear, even against an opponent who seemed like a good fit stylistically.This reality is what casts Pacquiao as an underdog ahead of his much-anticipated comeback against Barrios on July 19 (July 20 in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Nevertheless, he shouldn't be underestimated.Justine Fortune, Pacquiao's long-time strength and conditioning coach, believes Pacquiao still has a spark. Fortune expressed high praise for Pacquiao’s recent training sessions in Los Angeles. “Look, on the mitts and bags, they don’t hit back, but he’s looking as sharp as he did six or seven years ago. He hasn’t lost a step,” said Fortune.He also noted that Barrios, while talented, isn’t the hardest target to hit. “Barrios takes a lot of punches, and Pacquiao is definitely the last person you want hitting you like that. Once you take those shots, you can start swelling up, and if he clips you, it could lead to cuts.”And when asked for his prediction? Fortune was straightforward: “I see a stoppage. This fight won’t go the distance.”

Libero Josh Ybañez refuses to guarantee results but promises heart as Alas Pilipinas prepares to battle Egypt at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship this afternoon at MOA Arena.  The 22-year-old defensive stalwart admires Egypt’s composure and discipline, calling their recent win over Iran a standard to aspire to.“They played really well, very organized and disciplined,” Ybañez said in Filipino, describing Egypt’s win. “What really stood out to me was their composure under pressure and how consistent they were with their execution. It was a big learning experience for us, because that’s the kind of standard we want to reach, too.”Last Friday, the Philippines, coming off a spirited late rally against Tunisia in its World Championship debut, looks to build on lessons learned as it faces the world No. 18 squad. “We learned a lot from our first game, especially on the defensive side. It gave us more confidence that we can keep up. For the second game, we’ll bring that same energy and hopefully, we can apply the coaches’ adjustments even better.” Ybanez said. Ybañez, a two-time UAAP MVP now anchoring the national team’s defense, believes composure and grit will be key. Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni will again rely on Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, and Owa Retamar to lead the charge.“Our mindset is simple: fight with all our heart and give everything we’ve got. What we can promise is that we’ll do everything to prove we’re worthy to carry the Philippine flag and represent the country on this stage.” Ybañez added,

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is hoping to have naturalized player Justin Brownlee back in action in time for the start of the team’s training camp next week as preparations ramp up for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.The national team will begin camp on November 17 at the Inspire Sports Academy, aiming to build chemistry and conditioning ahead of the first window of the qualifiers, which begins on November 28.Cone expressed optimism that the team will be complete by then, including Brownlee, who has been “missing in action” recently amid reports of pneumonia, causing him to miss Meralco’s recent East Asia Super League games.Neither Brownlee nor the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has issued an official statement regarding his condition.Despite this, Cone remains focused on ensuring Gilas is fully prepared before facing Guam on November 28 at the Calvo Field House in Guam, followed by a rematch on December 1 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo.Meanwhile, Kai Sotto will remain sidelined as he continues rehabilitation from an ACL injury earlier this year. His spot in the lineup will be filled by Quentin Milora-Brown, who has been cleared by FIBA to play as a local.“We just want to get going and make sure everyone’s ready,” Cone said, emphasizing the importance of starting camp strong to maintain Gilas’ momentum heading into the qualifiers.

The Fighting Maroons snapped defending champion National University’s perfect run, clawing their way back from the brink to pull off a 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 victory on Wednesday afternoon, March 26, at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.UP’s fiery start in the opening set proved crucial as they erased NU’s 24-23 advantage with three straight points, including two clutch attacks from Niña Ytang and an error from Alyssa Solomon.