Nesthy Petecio, a two-time Olympic medallist, received a promotion from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after winning a bronze medal in the Paris Olympics.The Filipina pugilist was promoted from Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) to the next higher rank of Petty Officer First Class (PO1).PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan conducted the ceremony at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila, on Monday, December 2.

The Philippine Men’s Football team’s match against Myanmar ended in a 1-1 draw in the opening match of their 2024 ASEAN Championship campaign at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.Myanmar scored first through Maung Maung Lwin at the 25th minute mark.During the second half, Bjorn Kristenensen scored the goal through a spot kick in the 72nd minute of the game. 

Barangay Ginebra gave a wonderful Christmas gift to their die-hard fans by defeating the Magnolia Hotshots, 95-92, in their Christmas Manila Clasico duel on Wednesday night, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Magnolia seemed inspired to win their first back-to-back victories in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup as they erected a 55-41 halftime lead and even established a game-high 22-point lead in the third period.But the Gin Kings displayed their never-say-die attitude to put the game in a cliffhanger showdown.

Half Court Group earned a coveted slot in the FIBA 3x3 Manila Challenger this September after an impressive showing in the Pilipinas United 3x3 League (PUL) men’s division over the weekend.Despite falling to Kuala Lumpur, 21-15, in the title game, the Filipino squad emerged as the top local finisher out of 12 teams, booking their place in the Manila Challenger.Playing shorthanded in the finals after key import Adeshokan Odou went down with a knee injury in the semis, veteran Chester Saldua led the charge with nine points.However, Kuala Lumpur’s Ting Chun Hong sealed the championship with a clutch putback, earning the Malaysian a slot in the FIBA 3x3 Kaohsiung Challenger in October.Half Court Group’s resilience was on display as they ousted Taho Story A, 21-14, in the quarters and survived Solaris, 20-17, in the semis. On the other hand, Kuala Lumpur stunned Taho Story B, 21-18, in the semis after dispatching SBB, 21-16, in the quarters.With their Manila Challenger berth secured, the Half Court Group now looks to regroup and recover, ready to take on international 3x3 competition on home soil. 

Cash incentives await some student-athletes representing the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.Asia Paraase, a student-athlete from Pajo National High School, who bagged the first gold medal for the 64th Palarong Pambansa on Thursday, July 11, will receive a cash incentive from Lapu-Lapu Government after demonstrating an exceptional performance during the secondary girls 3,000-meter run category.Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan acknowledged Paraase’s achievement and assured athletes from the city that they would be granted an unspecified amount worth of cash incentives.“We are happy and proud that the first gold medal came from an athlete from Lapu-Lapu. This brings great pride to our city,” said Chan.Participating student-athletes who will clinch gold, silver, and bronze medals will be rewarded.The City Sports Commission will recommend the budget allocation that will be approved and passed by the City Council. 

Kyle Nathan Fabian and Lediviere Joy Hebron captured six gold medals on the first day of the 2024 Palarong Pambansa games at GMall Atrium on Thursday, July 11.The Zamboanga Peninsula dancesport duo dominated the Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep and the 5-Dance categories.“It is our first time at the Palaro, and winning gold is an incredible feeling,” Fabian told the Manila Times in an interview.Hebron shared that their journey to the Palarong Pambansa was marked by rigorous training.“We trained five times a week,” she said.The pair made history as the first-ever dancesport medalists of the Palarong Pambansa in the juvenile or elementary category, a significant milestone for Region IX and their school, Montessori De Zamboanga.This year marks the debut of dancesport as a regular medal event in the Palarong Pambansa, making it one of the most anticipated competitions at the annual multi-sport event.

Aaron Fuller is returning to the PBA as the import of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for the Season 49 Governor’s Cup. He will be reunited with Yeng Guiao, who coached him during his stay with the NLEX Road Warriors.The PBA confirmed through its website that The Iowa and University of Southern California product will be playing for his fourth team in the PBA. He suited up for NLEX from 2017 to 2028, Blackwater in 2019, and TNT in 2022.Fuller played recently for Fuerza Regia in Mexico, Urunday Universitario in Uruguay, and Gigantes de Guayana in Venezuela.With the combination of the 34-year-old Fuller international experiences, steady veterans and a bunch of quality rookies that they drafted this year, the Elasto Painters is set to go deep once again in the PBA battlefield just like they did in the Philippine Cup last season where they reach the semifinals for the time after five years of waiting.Fuller and ROS might have a strong chance to go deep but they still have to face the four-time Governor’s Cup champion Justin Brownlle, three-time conference best import awardee Allen Durham and a bunch of new reinforcements for the season-opening conference.

When the PBA Season 49 opens on August 18, a combination of familiar and new imports will be paraded in the season-opening conference, Governor’s Cup.Among the familiar reinforcements is the six-time PBA champion and three-time best import awardee, Justin Brownlee of Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel.Brownlee brought the Gin Kings to the promised land four times in the 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2021 editions of the said conference in. He also won championships with the crowd-favorite team in the 2018 & 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup. He went 6-0 in all those finals that made him tie the record of Sean Chambers, another import who played for Coach Tim Cone during Alaska’s reign in the 90’s.During the 2023 edition of the Governor’s Cup, JB tried to win another title for the Kings, etched a 7-0 legacy in a championship series, and immortalized himself as the PBA’s winningest import but they lost to TNT Tropang Giga in six games. TNT was led by former NBA player, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and interim Coach Jojo Lastimosa who won his first PBA title as head coach.The Ginebra’s resident import will have another chance to win his 7th ring but he has to face a mixture of familiar foes and new oppositions.In spite of the obstacles he needs to go through, Brownlee still has the edge against all of them by being the most experienced and successful. And that makes him still the standard amongst imports.

The De La Salle Lady Archers is getting its own share of basketball stars, as Gilas Girls powerhouse Princess “BJ” Villarin will suit up for the green-and-white beginning UAAP Season 87.According to a report from the Tiebreaker Times, the 5-foot-6 Gilas star has chosen to commit to DLSU, ending her high school basketball career with the NU Lady Bullpups and the NU system in general.DLSU management confirmed to Tiebreaker Times that the UAAP 3x3 and NBTC veteran will indeed make the jump from NU to DLSU.During her high school career, Villarin was part of the Lady Bullpups 3x3 program. She also suited up for national team duty, having played in the 2022 FIBA Under-16 and Under-18 Asian Championship.With Villarin’s incluision in the lineup, DLSU can find itself improving on its women’s basketball record after finishing the Final Four with a 7-7 record. She is expected to start in the upcoming Season 87 and play a full five-year term with DLSU, the Tiebreaker Times report said. (PB) 

Asia Paraase from Central Visayas delivered another spectacular performance after securing her second gold medal at the Palarong Pambansa 2024 on Sunday, July 14, at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) oval.Paraase clinched victory in the secondary girls’ 1,500 meter run, setting a new personal best of 4 minutes and 50 seconds, surpassing her previous record of 4:56 set at the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) 2024.The 17-year-old student athlete from Lapu-Lapu City first made headlines last Thursday, July 11, when she earned the inaugural gold medal of the ongoing games by topping the 3,000-meter run.“I am very happy that I succeeded in this Palarong Pambansa and won the 1,500 meter run,” said Paraase told Manila Times in an interview after the competition.The young athlete was overwhelmed with joy, discovering at the last minute that her entire family had come to watch her final race.“I am happy that they are happy. I was able to achieve my goal,” said the incoming Grade 12 student at Pajo National High School.Meanwhile, Paraase also revealed that universities in the National Capital Region have offered her scholarships, but she plans to finish her senior high in Lapu-Lapu before deciding on her next step.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxer Eumir Marcial, and rower Joanie Delgaco will open the Philippine campaign at the Paris Games on Saturday, July 27, a day after the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games by the Seine River.Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has high hopes that this year’s delegation will match the feat of weightlifter Hidilyn Dias, who captured the country’s first gold, or surpass the silver medals of boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesty Petecio, all achieved in 2020 Tokyo Olympics.“We are looking forward to Caloy, Eumir and Joanie to give the country that strong start in Paris. They are all prepared and inspired and in high spirits,” Tolentino stated in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.Delgaco, the Philippines’ first-ever female rower to make the Games, will be the first to see action in the quadrennial meet.The 26-year-old will race in the women’s sculls heats at 3:00 p.m. (Manila time) at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, with the hopes of entering the semifinals scheduled on July 29.Meanwhile, gymnast Yulo and boxer Marcial will have their competitions running simultaneously starting at 9:30 p.m.The 23-year-old, who placed fourth in the vault event in Tokyo, will compete in the qualification round of the men’s gymnastics individual all-around at the Bercy Arena. The finals will be set on July 31.Yulo, the 2019 floor exercise world champion and 2021 vault king, is one of the Philippine bets to win a medal. The 10-time Asian Championships gold-medalist finished fourth in vault at the Tokyo Games three years ago.Marcial, on the other hand, will box in the round of 32 in the men’s light-heavyweight division (80kg) at the North Paris Arena.The 28-year-old pride of Zamboanga City, who has a 5-0 record as a pro, bagged the middleweight bronze in Tokyo.“This team, I believe, is the most prepared in Philippine Olympic history,” Tolentino said, also expressing his gratitude to the Philippine Sports Commission for its unrelenting support of the athletes’ training.The Philippines is celebrating its 100th year of participating in Paris, which will gather 10,714 athletes from 206 nations competing in 329 events from 32 sports from July 26 to August 11.

Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch are on the mission to end a near-century long drought as they represent Philippine swimming in the 2024 Paris Olympics.Swimming is considered as one of the richest sources of medals for multi-sports events like the Olympics and with the Philippines making great use of the country’s geography to produce exceptional tankers. Teofilo Yldefonso started the trend of Filipino success in swimming - and in the Olympics overall - by being the first Filipino and Southeast Asian Olympic medalist.He nabbed two bronze medals when he bannered the country in men’s 200 meters breaststroke in both 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games.Since then, however, the Philippines has been in a constant search of that next great swimmer, one that both Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch would like to snap in Paris.

The 18-year-old Filipina gymnast suffered a "severe allergic reaction" while having an evening walk in the Olympic Village last Monday, July 22.Ruivivar shared on her Instagram the medical incident that happened, detailing what went down in a shocking health scare ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. While doing her evening walk, the 18-year-old said she began to feel some anaphylactic reaction, and although she admitted having a tree nut allergy, she insisted she did not ingest the allergen.Levi became aware that it was anaphylaxis—a severe allergic reaction that can be traced when a person has been exposed to something allergic like peanuts or bee stings.Ruivivar quickly returned to her room and called her parents, while her roommate and fellow Olympian Aleah Finnegan went out in search of the Olympic Village emergency clinic.She had to overcome “some initial difficulties” to reach the hospital with the help of her coach, Finnegan, and other staff members. 

Team USA dominated the South Sudan Bright Stars 103-86 in the group phase of the Olympics men’s basketball on Wednesday, July 31 at the Pierre Mauro Stadium in Paris, France.There was no repeat of their pre-Olympic game where South Sudan almost made an upset against the Americans as the game ended at 101-100. Team USA had to overcome a 16-point deficit, with LeBron James scoring the game winning lay-up.The Americans showed their might this time as they started the game with a 6-0 run and never looked back until the end to secure their quarterfinals ticket in the Paris Games.Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo led the Americans in scoring with 18 points, 14 of which came from the first half of play. He also grabbed seven rebounds, swatted two shots, dished off one assist and tallied one steal.Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker and Derick While all finished in double figures in scoring too.It was also the return of Jayson Tatum in the starting line-up after not playing a single minute in their opening game against Serbia.On the other hand, Noni Omot led South Sudan with 24 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Carlik Jones added 18 markers, seven dimes, three boards and one steal.Team USA will still be facing Puerto Rico on August 3 to cap off their group stage assignment while the Bright Stars will face Serbia in a must win situation to advance to the next round.

Team Philippines’ John Cabang Tolentino capped off his Paris 2024 medal bid after withdrawing from the competition due to an injury. He was set to compete in the repechage round of the men’s 110 meter hurdles race at Stade de France set on Tuesday, August 6.The Filipino hurdler publicly apologized on social media saying he won’t be able to compete due to an undisclosed injury.

After achieving a historic win for the Philippines. The Filipino-Britain bronze medalist Jake Jarman expressed his desire to represent the Philippines in the 2028 L.A Olympics. Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion confirmed in an interview. According to Carrion, it is going to be easy for Jarman because he already has his Philippine passport.They will also seek permission from the International Gymnast Federation if Jarman receives a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ from FIG. 

The host country France is heading back to the Olympics men’s basketball gold medal game after narrowly defeating Germany in their semi-final battle, 73-69.Germany started out strong to take a 10-point lead in the first canto of play but France tied the game heading to halftime. Les Bleus built a 13-point lead of its own with less than seven minutes in the fourth and final period. Germany cut the deficit into two in the final minute but France held on to the lead until the final buzzer.Guerschon Yabusele led France with 17 points. Victor Wembanyama had 11 points on 4-for-17 shooting, while Rudy Gobert went scoreless in just five minutes of action.Dennis Schröder scored a game-high 18 points for Germany and Franz Wagner chipped in with 10.France now awaits the winner of the USA-Serbia match-up to know whom they will face in the finals of the tournament.In France men’s basketball Olympic history, they have three silver medals in their bags - all three coming at the hands of Team USA and the latest was in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This is the French’s 4th gold medal match appearance in Olympic basketball.This year's gold medal game will be held at 3:30 a.m on August 11, Sunday (PH time).Meanwhile, Germany will be battling for their first Olympic men’s basketball medal against the loser of the USA-Serbia match-up for the bronze medal at 5:00 p.m on August 10, Saturday (PH time).

Rain or Shine head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao is elated after the Philippine Supreme Court approved his petition for mandamus calling on the country’s gambling regulators to distribute funds to the country’s sports commission.At the heels of the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association or PSA Forum in Manila, the former Pampanga solon, who is once again leading tactics for the Elasto Painters in the PBA, says he is expecting that the move will generate much-needed funding for the country’s sports programs.

Hopson knocked down the 4-pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining in the game to lift Converge FiberXers to a 96-95 squeaker against TNT Tropang Giga after trailing as much as 16 points in the game.The Converge import completed his heroics in the defensive end as he blocked the driving Rondae Hollis-Jefferson just before the final buzzer went off.Converge improved to 2-1 as they dealt TNT their first loss of the conference after three matches.The FiberXers were still down by three, 95-92, after Hollis-Jefferson knocked down the game’s last four free throws, including a pair with only 9.6 seconds left in the contest.Converge interim head coach Franco Atienza said that they intended to take the four-point shot in their final possession as they have someone who can shoot from that distance.True enough, Hopson made the historic game-winning shot after he got enough space to launch a shot off the screen given by Bryan Santos against Glenn Khobuntin.