The Philippine Squash Academy is set to host two international tournaments later this month, capitalizing on the opportunity to raise its profile and expose its players to world-class action in anticipation of larger competitions. Philippine Squash chairman Robert Bachmann told the Philippine Sportswriter Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, October 8, that everything is set for the Philippine Satellite on October 22-25 and the Philippine Challenger Classic on October 27-31.Both competitions will be held at the PSA Academy, which is located inside the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila.“Our top athletes can improve their world rankings by competing here and for the rest, this is a chance to get some exposure by playing with the best,” Bachmann said.The tournaments, according to Bachmann, will help the Philippine squad get ready for the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand in 2025, the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan in 2026, and the qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

Fourteen Filipino trail runners are set to make their presence felt when they compete against the best runners in Asia in the Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships in Ulju, South Korea slated October 23 to 27. The two-time Southeast Asian Games women’s marathon gold medalist and five-time Milo Marathon queen Christabel Martes mentored the Philippine Trail Running National Team and guided the team in their extensive training in Baguio City.John Ray Onifa and Elizabeth Dangadang will banner the Filipino runners in the first edition of this prestigious continental meet where they will get to test their mettle against the best runners coming from China, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

Fresh faces Joshua Retamar and JM Ronquillo made a superb debut as they steered Cignal HD Spikers to victory in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna on Tuesday, October 22.The reigning Open Conference champions launched their campaign by cruising past Chichi DHTSI in straight sets, 25-16, 25-16, 25-14. The HD Spikers bagged a swift one-hour, 11 minute win over the Titans with former National University standout Retamar, who only played in the first two sets, set the tone by tossing 10 excellent sets, while ex-De La Salle University ace Ronquillo tallied nine points on five attacks, two blocks, and two aces.  

The Gilas Pilipinas defeated New Zealand for the first-time ever, 93-89, to open the Window 2 of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifier 2025 in Mall of Asia Arena Thursday night, November 21. With the victory, Gilas has finally broken a four-game losing streak in its head-to-head against the World No. 22 squad.Gilas had a sluggish start, going down 0-8 in the opening minutes. However, they slowly climbed out of the hole and took the lead, 20-18, following a Calvin Oftana trey. Until in the remaining minutes in fourth quarter, the host got the play it needed as Chris Newsome drained an open three-pointer with 1:09 left, allowing the Philippines to extend its lead to seven.Kai Sotto finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Justin Brownlee paced the Filipinos with 26 points, while three other Gilas players scored in double digits: Scottie Thompson (12 points), Newsome, and Dwight Ramos (11 points each). 

Converge took down Phoenix, 116-105, to post its first win streak in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, December 19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The FiberXers overcame an 18-point deficit in the early stages of the first period and rallied in the second half to improve their record in the standings to 4-2 to secure their first consecutive conference victory."We just stuck on. We didn't panic. We returned on how we run our system, run our offense and defense. It's nice because we have six players in double digits," said coach Franco Atienza, expressing his satisfaction with his team's effort in making a comeback.The FiberXers gradually narrowed the gap by scoring more points than the Fuel Masters. Converge eventually tasted their first lead after two free throws from Bryan Santos that placed them ahead 69-67 at 5:53 in the third session.Halfway through the fourth quarter, the FiberXers shattered any hopes of a final surge of momentum for the Fuel Master with Alec Stockton leading the 9-0 run, ending with a pair of charities courtesy of Jordan Heading, 105-94, with 3:38 left on the clock.

After 25 years of waiting, the Indiana Pacers have returned to the NBA Finals stage.The Pacers did it on Sunday, May 6 (Philippine time), when they defeated the New York Knicks in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Finals series, 125-108, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Japanese mixed martial artist Ayaka Miura is determined to make history when she challenges Filipina champion Denice Zamboanga for the ONE Atomweight MMA World Title at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.Fighting on home soil, Miura—known as “Zombie”—expressed her excitement and sense of purpose. “I’m truly happy to fight for a world title here in Japan, where I was born and raised. I believe there’s meaning behind being given this opportunity. I will become the first Japanese woman to win a ONE Championship belt, and I’ll do it right here in Japan,” she said.Riding a five-match winning streak, with four first-round submissions, Miura is eager to seize this moment. “I wasn’t able to get the strawweight title before, but this time, I’ll get what I left behind. I’ll prove the strength of Japanese fighters by winning the belt on home soil.”Miura acknowledged the challenge Zamboanga presents. “At first, I thought she was mainly a grappler, but her striking has really improved. Now I see her as a complete all-rounder, physically very strong. I believe Zamboanga will come in with a solid ground defense strategy and try to turn it into a striking battle. Whether it’s on the feet or on the ground—even if the fight gets messy—I’ll do whatever it takes to win.”Zamboanga, on a four-fight winning streak herself, will look to defend her title as the card kicks off a night featuring four championship bouts. Also on the card, Filipino Joshua Pacio aims for the flyweight MMA world title against Japan’s Yuya Wakamatsu, while Oumar Kane meets Anatoly Malykhin for the heavyweight crown and Superbon faces Masaaki Noiri to unify the featherweight kickboxing championship.

On National Heroes’ Day, Alex Eala delivered her own brand of heroism in New York, pulling off a dramatic 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) comeback win over world No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark in her US Open main draw debut.The 20-year-old Filipina staged a stunning rally from 1-5 down in the deciding set, then survived a marathon tiebreak to claim her first-ever Grand Slam main draw victory—becoming the first Filipino player to achieve this milestone.“I’m super over the moon with what I was able to do today, especially coming back in the third. I’ve lost these tight tiebreaks before, so to come out on top is unforgettable,” Eala said.Eala, now ranked No. 75, next faces either Spain’s Cristina Bucsa (No. 35) or American qualifier Claire Liu, in a tough bracket stacked with top seeds like Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, and Elena Rybakina.For Eala, the win was made even sweeter by the home-like energy from over 8,000 fans—family, coaches, and Filipino supporters—cheering her on at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.“I don’t have a home tournament, so having this community at the US Open made me feel at home,” she added.The thrilling win reverberated back in Manila, with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. among those celebrating Eala’s grit and history-making feat: “She’s only getting started. Congratulations Alex Eala. The entire Philippines is with you every step of the way.”From the brink of defeat to a place in history, Alex Eala’s US Open breakthrough is a win for herself and for Philippine tennis.

The world No. 16 squad announced its arrival with a stunning sweep of then-No. 5 Japan in its pool play opener, setting the tone for what would become a dominant run. That upset, followed by a gritty 3-1 victory over Libya and a clinical 25-21, 25-16, 27-25 sweep of world No. 7 Canada, catapulted Turkiye to the top of Pool G.For head coach Slobodan Kovac, the mission has been clear from the beginning: to prove that Turkiye is far from ordinary. Even with qualification for the Round of 16 already secured before facing Canada, Kovac refused to let his players relax, applying relentless pressure and insisting that every match carried weight. Not just for positioning, but also for valuable ranking points.That demanding approach has rubbed off on his players, particularly opposite spiker Adis Lagumdzija. Against Canada, Lagumdzija hammered 14 points, embodying the competitive fire Kovac has instilled. The towering hitter admitted that while they expected a grueling challenge from Japan in the opener, sweeping the Asian powerhouse became the confidence boost that fueled their run through pool play.

Filipino rising star Kenneth “The Lover Boy” Llover continued his impressive ascent in the boxing ranks after scoring a fourth-round stoppage victory over Luciano Baldor of Argentina.The spitfire from General Trias, Cavite showcased his trademark aggression and power, flooring Baldor before sealing the win with a decisive flurry that forced the referee to step in.With the victory, Llover preserved his perfect record, improving to 16 wins with 11 knockouts (16-0, 11 KOs) — a clear statement that he remains one of the Philippines’ most promising young fighters.The dominant performance further cements Llover’s growing reputation as a knockout artist and a future contender on the international stage.

Senate Committee on Sports Chairman Senator Christopher “Bong” Go praised Filipino tennis champion Alexandra “Alex” Eala not only for her historic championship win at the 2026 Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., USA, but also for giving Filipinos a reason to unite.Go said Eala’s win brought Filipinos from all walks of life together to rally behind her breakthrough victory and celebrate a defining moment for Philippine tennis, amid intense political division in the country.“Sa panahon ngayon na ang daming kaguluhan sa mundo at watak-watak ang bansa dahil sa magulong pulitika, at least for a few hours during the last few nights, nagkaisa po ang mga Pilipino,” Go said.“Filipinos from all walks of life watched every serve, every rally, and every match point, and every winning moment that brought many Filipinos to tears. Truly, Alex Eala makes us proud to be Filipinos again,” the senator declared.Go on Wednesday, August 5, manifested his co-sponsorship of a Senate resolution to congratulate Eala after she defeated World No. 3 and tournament top seed Jessica Pegula, 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, in the championship match. With the victory, Eala became the first Filipino to win a WTA Tour singles championship.“This milestone forever changed the history of Philippine tennis and further cemented her place among our nation’s greatest athletes. Every match of Alex serves as an inspiration. Alex Eala shattered a ceiling that many believed a Filipino tennis player could never reach. She is living proof that success is earned through discipline, perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in one’s dream,” he said.Go also filed Senate Resolution No. 561 commending Eala for her historic championship at the Mubadala DC Open.Prior to this, Go filed Senate Resolution No. 493 recognizing Eala’s historic Wimbledon campaign, during which she became the first Filipina to win in the women’s singles main draw and the first Filipino in the Open Era to reach the fourth round of the Grand Slam tournament.In his speech, Go recalled personally watching Eala compete at the Philippine Women’s Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in January. He also welcomed plans to hold the tournament again next year, saying international sporting events can strengthen both athlete development and tourism.The senator said Eala’s championship was the result of years of preparation and sacrifices that began when she was still a young athlete.“She left the comfort of home at an early age to train abroad, dedicating countless hours to practice while making sacrifices that many people never see. Behind every championship point were years of exhausting training sessions,” Go said.Go extended his congratulations to Eala’s family, coaches, the Philippine tennis community, the Philippine Tennis Association led by its president, Representative Eric Olivarez, and secretary general Mayor John Rey Tiangco, as well as the Philippine Sports Commission under Chairperson Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.“May her story continue to inspire generations of Filipinos to dream boldly, work tirelessly, and proudly raise the Philippine flag in every arena of the world,” Go concluded. 

After close calls in the past, Filipino-American gymnast Emma Malabuyo’s dream of making the Olympics finally came true.The fulfillment of the dream came true when Malabuyo finished third in the individual all-round division of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships held in Uzbekistan back in May.

Olympic basketball in the 2024 Paris Games has been off to a hot start, with ball clubs from different nations slugging it out for a chance to qualify for the medal rounds and call themselves the world’s best.Australia and Spain will open the men’s tournament in the Group Phase A while Group Phase B will begin with the battle between Japan and Germany to be followed by Brazil meeting the host team France in the main game.  Australia opened the Men’s Basketball tournament with a bang by defeating world’s No. 2 Spain 92-80 in the Group A phase.NBA veteran Patty Mills opened the scoring for the No. 5 ranked Aussie team by converting three free throws followed by Jock Landale three pointer to have a 6-0 lead early in the opening frame.The Boomers erected a double-digit lead in the 1st half of play but Spain refused to give up and even took the lead for a while before the Aussies put the game away during the final frame.Josh Giddey, Jock Landale and Patty Mills combine for 56 of Australia's 92 points in their Group A win.The debuting Giddey wrote himself into the record books by becoming the first player to combine 15+ points, 7+ rebounds and 7+ assist in his first game at the Olympics, putting his name alongside the legendary Drazen Petrovic who made the same feat in 1984 against Italy.

Hester will be on his third tour of duty in the league and it became possible after an unfortunate injury happened to Brandon Edwards.Edwards was the original import of the Terrafirma in the season opening conference Governors’ Cup but he suffered an ACL injury in their tune-up game against Meralco Bolts last Tuesday.The Dyip crammed in searching for a replacement for Edwards but luckily for them, Hester was available and also excited to return to Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

The Philippines will host the ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship to be held on November 16 to 21 at the Philsports Arena. This tourney will serve as a kick off of the Pinay 5’s one-year buildup for their stint in the grandest stage — the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s Cup in November next year that the country is also hosting.Meanwhile, Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez hopes that the hosting of this tournament in the country and the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup will inspire young Filipinos to pick up the sport.

Far Eastern University (FEU) continued its impressive UAAP Season 87 volleyball campaign, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s tournaments against the University of the East (UE) on Wednesday, March 26, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Gilas Pilipinas forward/center Jack Danielle Animam will be playing for Energa Toruń, a Polish women's basketball club. Ahead of her debut in the Orlen Women's Basketball League this coming season, the management expressed their excitement to have her on the team. "We are delighted to officially announce that Jack Danielle Animam is the newest player of our club! Standing at 193 cm (6'4"), the center/power forward (born in 1998) will make her debut in the Orlen Women's Basketball League this coming season, writing a brand-new chapter in the history of basketball in Toruń," they wrote. Animam, consistently known as a double-double machine wherever she plays, is expected to play a significant role on her new team as they try to compete for a championship.

The William Jones Cup crown is back at the hands of the Filipinos after Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas trounced hometown bets Chinese Taipei and secured a 83-79 victory on Sunday, July 21, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.The Philippine representative completed a title sweep after going undefeated eight times and achieved what they fell short last January when they finished runner-up in the 33rd Dubai International Championship with a team reinforced by former NBA player Dwight Howard. SGA lost to Al Riyadi in the final.In the championship game against Chinese Taipei-A, Tajuan Agee lead the pack with game-high 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, a block, and a perfect nine-of-nine from the free throw line, following him was DJ Fenner who contributed with 15 markers, nine boards, and four steals.RJ Abarrientos tallied 14 on four-of-eight shooting from the three-point line in his last game before joining crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra in PBA.Also standing out is veteran guard Kiefer Ravena as he provided nine markers on a 3-of-6 clip along with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.Chris McCullough, on the other hand, finished with 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.McCullough was later named the tournament Most Valuable Player, averaging 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks in Strong Group’s eight-game sweep.Robert Tsang Hinton led Taiwan’s failed attempt at the title with 16 points, Cheng Yin Chun followed with 13, while Brandon Gilbeck had a double-double of 11, 13 boards along with five blocks as the host team settled for the runner-up finish with its 7-1 record.Strong Group became the seventh Philippine team to rule the annual Jones Cup. The last time the country reigned supreme was in 2019 under the Mighty Sports squad, which incidentally, was also coached by Charles Tiu.

Fate definitely smiled on Samantha Catantan as she snapped the 32-year longing for a Filipino fencer in the Olympic Games after emerging triumphant in the women’s foil event of the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifiers 2024 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates last April.The 22-year-old seized her Paris berth after defeating Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Aktayeva in a dramatic final match that saw the Filipina overcome a late deficit and a medical break to treat a knee injury.Tied at 13-all, Catantan took an injury timeout and was visibly limping when she returned to action. Aktaveya forced a final deadlock at 14, before Catantan seized the final point.

The Philippine Team, including the two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo, that competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics will be back in the country on August 13.