The San Miguel Beermen received their second straight loss, 101-85, in a fight-marred East Asia Super League (EASL) game against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots at the PhilSports Arena last night.Taoyuan exploded for a 32-13 bomb in the second quarter of the game to create an early separation, then fended off every uprising that the Beermen mounted.Early in the fourth quarter, Jericho Cruz hardly hacked Pilot’s import Alec Brown’s arm that the latter did not appreciate. Brown then swung an elbow intended for Cruz but missed the target.Quincy Miller shoved Brown to the SMB bench before Cruz, slapped the face of the Taoyuan reinforcement.The Pilots were well ahead at 86-68 with 6:32 left in the final period when the incident happened.

The NorthPort Batang Pier won their third straight victory in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup after overcoming Magnolia Hotshots, 107-103, on Wednesday, December 4, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.NorthPort relied on their defense to get the win. The Batang Piers tallied 15 steals and seven blocks, and also forced 24 opponent's turnovers.Import Kadeem Jack led NP with his double-double output of 30 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with two steals and two blocks.Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon logged in 27 and 25 a piece to lead the local unit.Tolentino got four rebounds, one steal and a block. He also drew fouls from opponents 11 times, while Munzon added nine boards, three assists, and five steals to his name.

The Converge FiberXers climbed from a 17-point deficit to steal the game from Barangay Ginebra, 98-91, in the continuation of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Saturday night at the Batangas City Coliseum.Ginebra dominated the game in the first half and established a 57-40 lead before the break.But Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston took over in the second half to lead Converge to a third straight victory.Stockton was vital in the third period, scoring 17 of his 22 points. He also had six rebounds and eight assists.The FiberXers scored 33 in that quarter, limiting Ginebra to only 13.In the fourth quarter, Winston poured out the first seven markers as Converge established its largest lead, 89-78.

The Converge FiberXers tallied their fourth straight victory after defeating the Meralco Bolts, 110-94, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, December 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Jordan Heading led Converge with his 30 points, five rebounds, and eight assists to notch their fourth straight win in the conference and improve their record to 6-2.“I try to approach this game like I approach every game, which is part of being a professional: You have a routine and you try to stick to your routine every single game. Obviously, there’s a little excitement but I’m used to it for as long as I can remember,” said Heading.The FiberXers even erected a 20-point margin, 94-74, with less than eight minutes left in the game, but the Bolts trimmed the lead to 102-88 with 2:57 left on the clock.However, Converge never looked back and secured the win with consecutive baskets from import Cheick Diallo, and big man Justin Arana.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters clinched their fifth win against Blackwater Bossing, 122-106, in their match last night, January 8, at the Philsports Arena in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.With the win, Elasto Painters now have a 5-1 win-loss record, while Black Water Bossing has a 1-6 win-loss in the team standings.The Elasto Painters immediately took off after posting a 23-point lead, 39-16 in the second quarter, where in the third quarter, Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson scored points, and they were able to extend the lead against Bossing, 87-70 in the last three minutes of the third quarter, until the Elasto Painters did not give up their advantage in the fourth quarter after Thompson scored a goal in the last 1:37 minutes, causing the Elasto Painters to further extend their lead over the opponent, 118-101.Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao admitted that he was worried because his team had almost a three-week break from the holiday break last year, although they did not neglect their practice.“My primary concern at the beginning was how sharp are the guys going to be coming off almost a three-week break. We had good practices, but iba pa rin 'pag makikita mo sa laro,” Guiao said.Guiao also said that at the beginning of the match, they had a difficult time against their opponent, but the team did not allow the victory to slip away from them. He added that what is important for them right now is to advance to the next round of the game, and they need to secure seven wins to secure a spot in the playoffs.“This is our first game in the new year, medyo concerned ako kung paano nila lalaruin 'yung first game namin. Sa amin ang importante makarating ng next round, Ang tingin namin seven wins will assure you of a slot in the playoffs. So we have five wins now,”  Guiao added.Meanwhile, Rain or Shine was led by Deon Thompson, who scored 25 points, while Adrian Nocum, Leonard Santillan, Anton Asistio and Caelan Tiongson each scored 22, 20, 18, and 11 points.On Saturday, January 11, Rain or Shine will again try to win against the Phoenix Fuel Masters, while Black Water Bossing will try to get a win against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, January 12.

De La Salle University asserted its dominance in UAAP Season 87 volleyball, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s divisions against archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, March 12, at the SM Mall of Asia.In the women’s match, Shevana Laput delivered a career-high performance, scoring 25 points to lead the Lady Spikers to a 25-15, 25-14, 20-25, 25-19 victory.With 19 attacks, three blocks, and three aces, Laput spearheaded La Salle’s third consecutive win, improving their record to 4-2. Angel Canino contributed 17 markers, while rookie setter Mikole Reyes recorded 20 excellent sets.Despite Ateneo taking the third set and an early 8-4 lead in the fourth, La Salle regained control behind Laput’s explosive plays, sealing the win after two hours and 14 minutes. The victory marked the Lady Spikers’ 15th straight win over Ateneo since the Season 79 Finals in 2017.

In the recently concluded PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft, Northport head coach Bonnie Tan drafted another controversial player just like he did last year.The Batang Pier added Gerry Mahinay to their roster whom they picked at number 46 overall during the fifth round. Mahinay still has an issue with the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). He was suspended indefinitely by GAB for his “deplorable act” after undercutting Joey Barcuma during their game in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.Despite his act, Mahinay still took shot at the pro league and luckily for him, Coach Bonnie has a “tan” (ton) of second chances in him.It was proven last season when the team drafted John Amores, who gained infamy for his rampage during his time with Jose Rizal University (JRU) in the NCAA. He was taken by NorthPort 51st overall and also in the 5th round.Amores worked his way to be part of the lineup and he averaged 3.3 points, 1.5 rebound, 7.8 minutes in 19 games of play for the Batang Pier. Just like Amores, Tan clarified that Mahinay will have to work hard in order for him to secure a contract with them or in any other team that wants to give him a new lifeline while proving that he has really reformed himself for GAB to rescind his ban.

The National Capital Region emerged as the 2024 Palarong Pambansa champion as it once again proved to be the supreme destination for the Philippines’ top young athletes concluding the event with a collection of 98 gold medals, 66 silvers, and 74 bronzes on Tuesday, July 16, held in Cebu City.Region IV-A (CALABARZON) secured second place with 57 golds, 51 silvers, and 53 bronzes, while Region VI (Western Visayas) placed third overall with 56 golds, 41 silvers, and 41 bronzes.The country’s capital got its haul from gymnasts Elaiza Yulo winning five golds and Maxine Amira Bondoc (5), swimmers Sophia Garra (5), and Alessandra Therese Martin (5), all rising as some of the event’s most bemedalled athletes, while the NCR boys’ secondary basketball team also reclaimed the crown after a fight-marred 86-71 victory against Central Luzon.The closing ceremony was also marked by inspiring stories of athletes who showcased not only their exemplary skills but also their sportsmanship and dedication.Central Visayas runner Asia Paraase and SOCCSKSARGEN walkathon athlete Jerrymae Malinog were honored with the ‘Most Inspiring Story’ award.Paradise, a 17-year-old track star, won two Palaro golds and touched hearts by assisting her competitors after races, demonstrating her sportsmanship and empathy.Meanwhile, Malinog, a Grade 10 working scholar from Kiahe Integrated School in Sarangani, became the first athlete from Blaan Indigenous Cultural Community to represent Region XII.As the Palarong Pambansa 2024 concluded, Ilocos Norte now prepares for the 65th Palarong Pambansa in 2025, as the likes of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon accepted the hosting responsibilities during the closing ceremony.

The Women’s Grandmaster title journey continues for chess prodigy Ruelle Canino after setting herself on board for a European trip as part of her preparations for the World Chess Olympiad in September.The 16-year-old reigning champion of the Philippine National Women’s Chess Championships will be tested as she is expected to battle top woodpushers to boost her bid for Woman Grandmaster status.The Far Eastern University standout will jumpstart her European campaign in the HZ University of Applied Sciences Chess Tournament slated August 3-10 in Vlissingen, the Netherlands.She will then go to Germany for the Dortmund Open scheduled on August 10 to 18, followed by the Open Internacional d’escacs Sants-Ciutat de Barcelona on August 23 until September 1.It will also serve as part of her preparation for the Asian Indoor and Martial Games booked this November in Thailand and the FIDE World Chess Olympiad set on September 10 to 23 in Budapest, Hungry.In Vlissingen, Canino will join fellow national team mainstays Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda, who left the country recently for a tournament in Switzerland.The trip is funded by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and Philippine Olympic Committee.The Philippine contingent will return to the country on September 3 then set to leave after a few days with the male woodpushers, coached by Grandmaster Eugene Torre, before they fly to Budapest where they will battle the world’s best. 

John Ceniza’s journey to the Olympics was one borne out of hard work, sacrifice, and literally carrying around different goods before being able to carry the hopes of a nation hungry for Olympic success.The 26-year-old Cebuano athlete is the first male weightlifter since 2016 who will be representing the Philippines in the Olympic Games.Ceniza secured his first ticket to the Paris Olympics after a strong performance in the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup men’s 61kg event in Phuket, Thailand last April.Ceniza lifted 132 kg in the snatch category and then 168 kg in the clean and jerk. In total, he was able to register a total lift of 300 kilograms, toppling his personal best of 298 kilograms during the 2023 IWF Grand Prix II in Qatar.Ceniza’s powerful and outstanding delivery in these prestigious sports competitions rooted from his humble beginnings of being a freight loader or a ‘kargador’ as a source of his livelihood. He would carry bananas, coconuts, and firewood to sustain his daily needs.It was not until his brother introduced him to a different type of lifting - the sport of weightlifting, where he bagged his first-ever gold medal with a total record of 139kg in the 42 kg category of Batang Pinoy in Bacolod City in 2014.Because of his sheer determination to carry and build his weightlifting career, Ceniza built a whirlwind of international wins.In 2019, he nabbed silver at the Southeast Asian Games in the men’s 55kg category with an overall lift of 252 kg. A year later, at the men’s 61 kg category of the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, he bagged the bronze medal upon carrying 269 kg.He is the third weightlifter from Cebu to represent the country in the Olympics after Elreen Ando in Tokyo 2020 and national team coach Ramon Solis in Seoul 1988.Bringing his experience and determination to the Olympic stage, Ceniza is eyeing to make history by becoming the first Filipino male lifter to win an Olympic gold medal.Ceniza’s shot at that coveted gold medal will be in the men’s 61 kilograms competition of the Paris games on August 7.

Filipino-American gymnast Aleah Finnegan will proudly carry the Philippine colors when she makes her Olympic debut in the Paris Games.Finnegan is one of the four gymnasts who will represent the country in the Summer Games. She will join fellow Fil-Ams Emma Malabuyo and Levi Jung-Ruivivar in the women’s artistic gymnastics events while Carlos Yulo will represent the flag in the men’s division. They hope to bring the Philippines’ first Olympic medal for the sport.The LSU (Louisiana State University) legend came from a family of gymnasts. Her sister Sarah was an alternate for the US Team back in the 2012 Olympics while her other sister Hannah represented the Philippines in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.Aleah also represented the US Team in the 2019 Pan American Games where she won a gold medal.Who is Alean Finnegan?Finnegan might have a lot of success in the gymnastics world but there were obstacles that she also faced along the way.She underwent surgery for a navicular bone injury in 2020 after the Tokyo Olympics original schedule was postponed. She eventually tried to compete for a slot in the Olympics trials but was not selected. The Fil-Am gymnast also retired from elite gymnastics in 2021, and decided to continue her career in LSU.Then, opportunities knock upon her door and it opens a lot of success for her.When she switched federations in 2022 and decided to represent the Philippines, she immediately earned success and made an impact by winning a gold medal in the team event and vault of the Southeast Asian Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam.Then in 2023, Finnegan competed in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships where she finished 32nd in the the women’s all-around event which allowed her to be eligible for a slot to the Olympics making her the first Filipina gymnast to qualify in the Paris Games.

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.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang may have crowned its new Queens of the sport.This, after Smart Omega Empress (OMGE) dethroned stalwarts, Team Vitality (VIT), to take the MLBB Women's Invitational (MWI) 2024 and write history as the first Filipino team to win a tournament at the Esports World Cup.The all-Filipino team executed a clean sweep over their Indonesian rivals in the Best-Of-Five (BO5) Grand Finals, ending their 24-match winning streak dating back to 2021.OMGE Roamer, Meraaay said during the post-match press conference: “We want to give honor to our country. I hope we made our kababayans (countrymen) proud, including those who went to the venue to support us. It feels like a dream for all of us. We would like to take our hats off to Team Vitality who gave us a good fight. We can already call ourselves world champions."

Cebuano weightlifters Elreen Ando and John Ceniza will begin their quest for Olympic gold next week, but this early, the acting mayor of Cebu City has promised to give them a huge bonus if they win medals in Paris.Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is committed to award Ando and Ceniza 1 million each from his personal funds if they can clinch gold medals in weightlifting.

Bianca Pagdangan and Dottie Ardina capped off the opening round of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games women’s individual stroke play in contrasting styles at the Le Golf National on Wednesday, August 7 (Manila time).Second-time Olympian Pagdanganan, who represented Philippines in Tokyo Olympics alongside Yuka Saso, started her bid with pars in the first three holes, but three costly bogeys in the fourth, fifth, and seventh holes saw her slipping in the rankings. The 26-year-old then found her rhythm and had birdies in the 12th, 15th, and 18th holes to go to an even par to end the day with 72 at joint 13th spot.Pagdanganan is currently in a logjam with defending gold medalist Nelly Korda of the United States, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lydia Ko of New Zealand, as well as world No. 3 Amy Yang of South Korea, keeping her medal hopes very much alive.The other Philippine bet, Ardina, earned a 4-over 76 score, tying five other golfers in the 40th spot with four bogeys and a double bogey in the front and back nine proving costly in her opening-day campaign.Meanwhile, two-time US Open champion Yuka Saso, who is now representing Japan after playing for the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, could not overcome an early double-bogey in the 7th hole for a wretched 5-over 77 outing and is tied with the three others in the 46th spot.The second round of the event will continue on Thursday, August 8.

Danilo Fresnido won a silver medal in the Men’s 50+ Javelin Throw event at the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden.Fresnido clinched the second spot behind Carlo Sonego of Italy with a distance of 56.34 meters.Masters sprinters John Aguilar and Brenda Zinampan together with pole vaulter Judith Staples saw action at Day 1 of the tournament.Zinampan ranked 12th in the 100 meter women’s event registering a time of 14.04 seconds in the qualifying rounds and would move to the semifinals. Aguilar finished 5th in 100 meters men’s event heat 2 with a 12.75 seconds performance while Staples ended her pole vault event in 6th place with a jump of 2.0 meter.On the other hand, Day 2 of the event saw Dolly Claravall in the Hammer Throw with a 27.01 meter performance and a 22nd place overall ranking in the highly contested W50 category.Hurdler Edward Kho finished 5th in heat 2 of the 400 meter men’s event and ranked 19th overall with a 1:10.13 performance. Zinampan saw action at the 100 meter women’s event with a 14.40 seconds, finishing at 22nd spot.Eleven members of the National Masters & Senior Athletics Association of the Philippines are competing in the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championship from August 13 to 25.

De La Salle University unleashed a masterclass, sweeping University of Santo Tomas 13-5, 13-7 in a high-octane finals showdown to capture the first-ever UAAP Esports VALORANT championship on Friday at the Hyundai Hall, Arete Ateneo in Quezon City.In a relentless display of precision and teamwork, the Green Archers proved unstoppable in their quest for UAAP history.La Salle coach Xavier “Xavi8K” Juan attributed their dominant performance in the finals to lessons learned during their tough semifinal match, which served as a springboard for their success.

Creamline Cool Smashers and Cignal HD Spikers are set to lock horns for the grand slam at the 2024 season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, September 12.The finals-bound Cool Smashers decisively crushed Farm Fresh Foxies’ podium hopes with a straight-set victory, 25-15, 25-13, 25-19, in the final Invitational Conference preliminary game.Creamline secured the finals berth with Jema Galanza’s triumphant return to the lineup after her duties with Alas Pilipinas. Galanza posted a game-high 13 points anchored on 11 attacks and two blocks, booting out Farm Fresh for a podium finish.

After flourishing at the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) East Asia Men’s Baseball Cup last year, higher stakes are on the table as the Philippine men’s baseball team hopes for a repeat act when they commence their campaign when the country hosts the 14th East Asia Baseball Cup slated October 28 to November 3 at Clark, Pampanga.According to Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) president Chito Loyzaga, the nation is rarely given the chance to organize an event of this nature; the previous one was held in 1995, or about thirty years ago. For this reason, the Philippines is making sure that everything is ready for the occasion.