The National University Lady Bulldogs dominated the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 86-58, in the Season 87 women's basketball tournament on Saturday, November 23, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, completing a 14-game sweep of the elimination round and guaranteeing an outright UAAP finals berth. This marks NU's tenth consecutive Finals appearance, having only lost to De La Salle University in Season 76 and the University of Santo Tomas last season.

The NLEX Road Warriors dominated the Terrafirma Dyip, 104-85, to earn their second win in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday, December 3, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.From the get go until the very end, NLEX never let go of the lead that even reached the high of 25.Robert Bolick led the Road Warriors with his 32 points, five assists, and four rebounds on 78.6 (11/14) percent shooting from the field, 2-of-2 from the four-point line, and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.Import Mike Watkins backed-up Bolick with his monster double-double of 26 markers and 30 boards, to go along with four blocks and three dishes.Two more players scored in double digits with Xyrus Torres contributing 15, and Anthony Semerad adding 13.NLEX also dominated the paint, 52-34, which became a big factor in getting their second straight win after losing their opening game of the mid-season conference.Coach Jong Uichico’s wards might have won the game but the nine-time PBA champion mentor was not completely satisfied with the results as they played an opponent who played all-Filipino in the entire second half.

Troy Rosario made no mistake in choosing Barangay Ginebra to be his second home. For him, the fulfillment of his childhood dream came into being. His first game with the Gin Kings last Wednesday night was the culmination of his ambition in the league ever since he was a child. “Finally, it's been a childhood dream nga eh to wear that jersey. Talagang masarap sa pakiramdam. Pagdating ko pa lang dito sa venue, talagang ‘yun ‘yung tinignan ko eh, kung nasaan ‘yung jersey ko. Finally, masusuot ka na rin,” said Rosario.Rosario played his first game in a Ginebra uniform against the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup action last night, which they won, 109-100.The 6-foot-7 big man started and played 30 minutes. He contributed with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists on 4-of-11 shooting.Rosario also admitted that the Gin Kings was the last team that spoke to him through the intercession of Scottie Thompson, his former teammate way back then in the PBA D-League.

After the Green Archers failed to clinch the coveted championship in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball, Kevin Quiambao is about to leave his team for good.The De La Salle power forward confirmed this after signing a contract with the Goyang Sono Sky Gunners to play in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).In his post on social media, he said that he will continue his plan to play in the NBA someday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder started and finished strong to secure a 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of their best-of-seven finals series on Tuesday, June 17 (PH time).

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.

There’s no secret formula behind Czechia’s improbable march to the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. Just determination, untapped potential, and belief—qualities that came to life in their four-set triumph over Iran, 22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-21, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.Not widely considered contenders in a group that featured powerhouse Brazil, Czechia has defied expectations with steady play and resilience. Now, they find themselves just two wins away from a historic championship run.“I don’t really know [what makes this team unique],” admitted head coach Jiri Novak. “I knew that in this team, I had players with big, big potential. I saw a lot of positive things during practices.”The Czech squad is riding a three-match winning streak and will now face surging Bulgaria, which shocked world No. 4 USA in a thrilling five-set comeback, in the semifinals.“We will play against one of two big teams, Bulgaria or the USA. We will see, we will see,” Novak said before the Bulgaria-USA clash. “Bulgaria is a young team, and the USA also, because they are preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games. We will see.”The semifinals concluded last Saturday, September 27, at the MOA Arena, with Poland, the world’s top-ranked squad, taking on defending champion Italy in the other pairing. The gold and bronze medal matches are scheduled for Sunday, September 28, at the same venue.From underdogs to semifinalists, Czechia’s rise is shaping up to be one of the biggest stories of this year’s World Championship—a reminder that in volleyball, belief and teamwork can sometimes topple tradition and reputation.

Iloilo prospect Charles Daniel Turla snapped the athletics boys’ elementary javelin throw record with a stunning 60.26 meter throw in his Palarong Pambansa debut.In just his third throw, the incoming Grade 7 athlete easily smashed the event’s eight-year-old record of 57.50 meter set by Jerick Mendoza of CALABARZON.Turla will try to build on his hot streak as he competes next in the boys elementary shot put competition on Saturday, July 13.

Jonalyn Halasan of Calabarzon bagged another gold medal for the region after ruling the secondary girls division of triple jump at 11.39 meters.This is the 17-year-old’s third time competing in Palarong Pambansa, and her second gold medal after finishing first in the elementary girls division of the same event in 2019.The student-athlete shared she draws inspiration from former long jump Olympian turned coach Marestella Torres. She also thanked her parents and her coaches for their support.“Even when we are not that tall and lean, they always remind us that we can still do it,” said Halasan, who hails from General Pantaleon Garcia Senior High School in Imus City, Cavite.

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 Green Archers have tapped the services of Fil-Am big man Dominic Sarmiento as its newest center.The ex-Irvine Valley College freshman was announced to be heading to Taft after a US-based Filipino basketball org, Tumakbo United, posted about Sarmiento’s next big move.A report from Tiebreaker Times showed that the 6-foot-8 center played in the States as part of the Orange Empire Conference of the California Community College Athletic Association.Sarmiento played 15 games for the Irvine Valley Lasers in the league’s 2023-2024 season, averaging 1 point and 1 rebound in five minutes of playing time.However, it will take some time before the Archers will tap its newest big man, as Sarmiento will need to fulfill a one-year residency period before he becomes eligible to play starting UAAP Season 88.Sarmiento joins a star-studded transfer class to DLSU, which also includes Mason Amos, Luis Pablo, and Kean Baclaan. (PB)

Strong Group Athletics remained unblemished in the 43rd William Jones Cup after a 82-74 win over Ukraine on Monday, July 15, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.Chris McCullough spearheaded the squad with a game-high 28 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block while Jordan Heading poured in 24 markers built on four 3-pointers.The team also drew brilliant playmaking from Kiefer Ravena, who notched 10 points and nine assists.Ukraine led 72-67 before Strong Group went on an 11-0 tear highlighted by McCullough completing a three-point play, sinking a triple, and making a pair of free throws in succession to seize the upper hand at 78-72.Free throws by Heading and Ravena then sealed the comeback win for SGA, which remained undefeated after back-to-back wins against UAE and Australia’s BSBL Guardians.Anatoliy Shundel’s 17-point outing was all for naught while Rostylav Novitskyi added 12 for Ukraine.Strong Group will look to solidify its hold on the top sport when it takes on Malaysia on Wednesday, July 16, at the same venue. 

Toyota Motor Philippines has launched its 2024 motorsports season, marking the 10th anniversary of its racing series with exciting new developments.The series, formerly known as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup, will now be known as the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup, symbolizing a fresh chapter in the country’s racing scene.Held at the Clark International Speedway in Mabalacat, Pampanga, the TGR Philippine Cup will unfold over three weekends and will open to the public: July 13, September 28, and November 9.This year, the TGR Philippine Cup will feature new and returning racers competing in the Sprint Race across three categories: Promotional Class, Sporting Class, and Super Sporting Class.A new sprint race category, the Novice Class, will debut for celebrities, influencers and media personalities. Making their circuit race debuts are Reph Bangsil, Lexi Mendiola, sim racer Russel Reyes, and media racers Pablo Salapantan, Jose Altoveros, Jamil Lacuna and John Rey San Diego.The TGR Philippine Cup will also feature a driving exhibition by professional drifters using the GR 86. Motorsport fans can enter a raffle for a chance to ride in the passenger seat of the GR 86 as it drifts around a slalom course.Attendees can look forward to freebies, prizes, official GR merchandise, GR road cars on display and available for test drives, and a live musical performance.

Around 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials across 17 regions take the spotlight on Monday, July 22, when the 2024 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games kicks off in various venues in Legazpi City.Student-athletes from 400 private schools around the country are expected to showcase their vigor and competence in 27 games composed of eight team sports, 14 individual and dual sports, and five Cultural & Academic Events in the week-long tournament in Albay.A junior year IT student from University of Cebu defied wet surfaces and gloomy weather as he clinched the first-ever gold of the tournament at Bicol University Complex.Mark Mahinay topped the men’s 5,000 meters registering a fast time of 15 minutes and 22.9 seconds to easily beat teammate Franklin Lee (15:53.4) and Ken Jay Moreto (15:55.7) of Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN).The 22-year-old was thrilled for his latest success as he has been longing to become a part of the national team in the future.“I am very happy that I achieved the target time. I am glad that I still performed well despite the heavy rain,” Mahinay said.“I hope I can get in the national team in the future,” he added. “Competitions like this are a good experience for athletes like me who want to improve.”Next off for the Cebuano trackster are 800 meters and 1,500 meters on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.

Being ranked World No. 2 in the men’s pole vault, Filipino Olympian Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is expected to end the Paris Games 2024 with flying colors by having a podium finish and probably take home the gold for the country.Facing the tall order already, he will be also dealing with added adversity as he has been battling undisclosed “various physical problems” for the past several months. In a lengthy post on Instagram, Obiena said:

The Philippines prepared 5 boxing athletes who are well-trained and equipped for what could become a historic run in the 2024 Paris Olympics.Among them are veterans and newbies with one core mission: bring home coveted Olympic medals.The Philippines are no stranger to Boxing in the Olympic Games. In 1996, They are of follows: Eumir Felix MarcialHe represents the Philippines and won a silver medal during the 2019 World Championships.Marcial managed to join and be qualified for the middleweight event for 2020 Tokyo Olympics which in the later postponed to 2021 due to the outbreak of Covid 19 Pandemic.After advancing to the semifinals against boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine, Marcial brought the first bronze medal since 1992He was also the first Filipino boxer to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.Marcial thanked his fans for believing in his abilities and hoping to continue in support in his endeavor towards the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. He has a total of boxing fights, in which 5 of these are Wins. 3 of those wins were by knockout, while Marcial continues to have a spotless record with no losses. Aira Villegas,Aira’s boxing career started in Tacloban City, where she learned to be tough and studied and learned boxing as her self defense.At the age of 15 years old she kept on focusing on practice and after joining  the Boxam Elite tournament in Spain, She won her first Gold Medal.  She is being chosen for the Olympic ticket in 1st World Qualification Tournament.However, it was her brother who encouraged her to pursue a boxing career in order for her to join in the Olympic Games.And through this sport, they were able to manage and help their family to provide for their daily needs.Her years of training paid off as during her stint during the In 2019 Southeast Asian Games, she won a bronze medal.She also competed at the 2022 Asian Games which was held in Hangzhou, China, where she lost the fight with her Mongolian opponent last year. From the gyms in Tacloban, Aira will now take her talents to the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing the country in the women’s flyweight 50-kg competition. Nesthy Petecio, Just like Aira, Nesthy was taught boxing as a means of self-defense.At the young age of 11, Petecio had a big break in her boxing career by. Joining boxing match during the celebration of Araw ng Dabaw in 2002, a match that she eventually won.In 2007, she competed in the Smart National Youth and Women’s Open Boxing Championship held in Cagayan De Oro City where she won a gold medal and earned the opportunity to be a part of the country’s national boxing team.Petecio started to compete and represented the country in several international competitions, some of which was the 2014 AIBA Women’s World Championship where she obtained a silver medal.2011 & 2013 Southeast Asian Games where she won both silver medals, the 2012 Asian Championship where she won a bronze medal, and a gold medal win in the 2015 Indonesia President’s Cup.In 2020, Nesthy qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics due to her high competitive rankings. Her first fight was a victory against Marcelat Sakobi Matshu of the Democratic Republic of Congo but, after facing her amateur rival Sena Irie in the final, Petecio lost by unanimous decision and won the silver medal, the first Olympic boxing medal won by a Filipino boxer in 25 years.Petecio is aiming for a her-story-making moment by trying to snag one more medal for a back-to-back medal performance in the Olympics. The hope that many for Nesthy have, is that this time, her silver turns to gold. Carlo PaalamCarlo joined the National Team in2013 and started competing internationally in 2016 where he earned both bronze medals during the AIBA youth Asian Championship and Asian Games in 2018.Later, he made a debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after being qualified through the IOC-BTF. Paalam won a silver medal during his bout in the Men’s Flyweight division against Galal Yafai of Great Britain.This time, Carlo’s hopes for an Olympic gold may not just be saying goodbye.This, after Paalam qualified for the Summer Games after winning over Indian Sachin Siwach in the men’s 57kg division semifinals during the 2024 Boxing 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand which was held on June 1. Hergie BacyadanBefore coming into the world of boxing, Hergie was a former martial artist and a wushu and vovinam practitioner.Bacyadan joined the Philippine national wushu team in 2016. In 2017, she took part in the Inaugural Sanda Asian Cup and World Wushu Championship which was held in Foshan China and Russia where she earned both silver medals in a 65k-kilogram division.During her Boxing career, it was marked when she participated in the 2019 ASBC Asian Grand Slam Boxing Championships held in Xiamen China.Bacyadan qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris after winning her quota bout during the 2024 World Olympic Qualification Tournament against Maryelis Yriza of Venezuela - a win, which can see Hergie transcend the boundaries of what an athlete can do and achieve.  The Philippines has seen its own level of success in boxing - one that it has achieved throughout the years. Only time can tell if the country’s Olympic successes in the sport can once again awaken the country’s successes in the sport.

Akari’s import Oly Okaro had a performance to remember as she paced her team to a five-set comeback against the Choco Mucho as they went 2-0 to start the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday, July 23.The Chargers remain undefeated in Pool B after pulling off the reverse sweep against the Flying Titans, 18-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13.The 28-year-old American opposite spiker recorded an explosive performance in the game, matching the season’s scoring record of 38 points built off 33 attacks, three aces, and two blocks. Okaro tied Creamline’s Tots Carlos in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference last March with the fifth-highest scoring output in the league’s seven year-history.

The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has decided to postpone the three games scheduled on July 26, 2024 at the Olivarez College Gymnasium in Parañaque as Metro Manila and nearby areas are still reeling from the ravage of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon.In a post shared by the MPBL Communication thru their social media account, they said that the health and safety of the teams, working staff, and fans are of utmost importance to the league.The new date of the postponed games will be announced in due course.Toda Aksyon Party Lost was supposed to battle Bicolandia Dragon at 4 p.m. game, to be followed by South Cotabato Warriors versus Quezon Huskers in the 6 p.m. schedule while host Parañaque Patriots was scheduled in the main event at 8 p.m. against the Abra Weavers.The main game is supposed to feature the return of Mark Yee in Parañaque (who started the season with the Patriot), but now as a Weaver for the first time.

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. 

Philippine gymnastics golden boy Carlos Edriel Yulo has booked a ticket to three Olympic events on his turf - all-around, floor exercise, and vault during the men’s artistic gymnastics qualification held at the Bercy Arena in Paris.The 24-year-old Yulo placed second in  the floor exercise with a score of 14.766, then sixth in the vault with a mark of 14.683 and performed in all events to get the 9th spot for the all-around with a score 83.631.On the other hand, Caloy failed to advance in the parallel bars - an apparatus where he won silver in the 2021 World Championships and gold in the 2022 Asian Championship. He scored 14.533 after his routine with a difficulty of 6.000. In the rings he scored 13.000, and 13.466 in the horizontal bar but not enough to advance to the finals. He also failed to advance in the pommel horse - the one they called his “kryptonite” with the score of 13.066.The single events target was to make it to top eight, and be part of the overall top 24 gymnasts for the all-around event. As Yulo qualified for three finals events, he surpassed his 2020 Olympics stint with one finals appearance in the vault. This time, he has three chances to get a medal for the men’s artistics gymnastics.Carlos Edriel will have his first shot at gold on July 31 at 11:30 p.m. PHT, with the individual all-around event. The floor exercise final will commence on August 3 at 9:30 PM PHT, while the vault final is set on August 4 at 10:24 PM PHT.