Para swimmer Ernie Gawilan posted his third-fastest time in the heats to advance in the final of the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 in the 17th Paralympic Games.Gawilan registered a time of 5:00.13 minutes and wound up third overall at the Paris La Defense Arena. A redemption performance two days after he failed to qualify for the medal race of the men’s 200-meter individual medley SM7.

The Philippines launched its campaign in the 2024 Baseball Federation of Asia or BFA XIII Under-18 Asian Baseball Championship with back-to-back wins at the Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium in Chinese Taipei on Tuesday, September 3.The U18 men’s baseball squad got off to a strong start with a 10-0 record win over Sri Lanka on Monday, September 2, then followed it up with a 4-2 victory over Hong Kong to stay unscathed so far in Group B. Laurence Valeros banked on his winning pitch to frustrate Sri Lanka as he struck out seven batters and yielded two hits in three and one-third innings. Meanwhile, Rinaldo Kyle and Brandom Sanchez notched the necessary runs to take charge and break the 2-2 score in the sixth inning against Hong Kong. Aron Jesse Manguiat then pounded out four in a five-inning, effectively giving the game to the Philippines.The Filipino batters will battle Japan in its remaining group assignment on Wednesday, September 4, with identical 2-0 win-loss records.The outcome of the match will decide the Philippines’ opponent in the Super Round slated September 6 and 7 with the medal matches set September 8.

Reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quimbao leads the De La Salle Green Archers to defeat the National University Bulldogs in their toe-to-toe battle, 78-75 in the opening game of the UAAP Season 87 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.The Green Archers superstar scored nine of his 22 points in the clutch including the winning triple with 9.8 seconds left that basically ended the game.

Alec Stockton came out clutch for Converge, scoring seven of the team’s last nine points in their victory over the Meralco Bolts, 105-97 in the PBA Season 49 Governor’s Cup on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.Stockton scored 12 of his 27 points in the payoff period including a big three-pointer in the final two minutes of play to put the FiberXers ahead for good, 99-97.The Fil-Am guard also grabbed 11 rebounds to record a double-double performance and complement the game-high 32 points and 10 rebounds of their new import Jalen Jones, who came in to replace the injured Scotty Hopson.

University of the East smeared their campaign with historic feat on Sunday, September 22, after thrashing De La Salle University, 65-47, in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.UE’s victory ended a five-year streak of winning drought dating back on September 21, 2019, when they escaped University of the Philippines with a slim 68-66 win.

Ateneo de Manila University took advantage of shorthanded Far Eastern University, trampling the latter team, 69-53, to stay in the top four of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday, September 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Reigning UAAP Season 86 MVP Kacey Dela Rosa paced the Blue Eagles, delivering 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Nigerian student-athlete Sarah Makanjuola registered 17 markers and 17 boards.FEU was able to control the game by as many as 16 points before a 10-4 run in the final quarter. The pressured Blue Eagles, however, quickly found its rhythm once again by supplying a crucial three-pointer courtesy of Gracie Batongbakal, a layup from Makanjuola, and a technical free throw by Kani Oani prompting Ateneo’s lead to 22 points, with less than 2:30 remaining on the clock.

Converge Alec Stockton made the final say in the Game 3 of their quarter finals against San Miguel when he hit a two-point jumper at the end of the buzzer to lead the FiberXers victory against the Beermen, 114-112, on Monday night, September 30, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The victory was the first franchise win of Converge in a post-elims play and the team did it in a fashionable way as they pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback from 21 deficit.San Miguel’s lead even reached as high as 27 points when they erected an 83-56 advantage before entering the final canto with an 83-66 edge.Then, the FiberXers resilience prevailed in the end as Stockton buried the game-winning shot over the outstretched arms of CJ Perez.Stockton's buzzer-beater became possible after the Converge guard stayed in the game when a flagrant foul penalty two called on him in the first quarter was downgraded to a penalty one after a review.He was initially called for a F2 after elbowing Kris Rosales in the closing seconds of the first period, but after the referees changed the call, allowing Stockton to stay in the game.Stockton finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists for the FiberXers, while Justin Arana produced 23 markers and 11 boards, and import Jalen Jones added 17.

The Elasto Painters team is now ready for their competition against Magnolia Hotshots in another do-or-die game tomorrow, Saturday, October 5, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Coach Yeng Guiao firmly believes that through this match, their desire to end the eight-year hunger for a title will be strong and soon to get hold of it. It can be remembered that last Tuesday in their intense Game 4 against the Hotshots, Rain or Shine failed to get the third win and they were dumped by Magnolia, 129-100. Guiao said that his team's stability as well as their resiliency and character will be tested in their clash tomorrow (Saturday) against the Hotshots. “Yung experience of playing a Game 5, of being in a winner-take-all situation, sa akin, kasama na ng build up yun. We're always getting better every playoff game that we played,” said the head coach of Rain or Shine. “So investment namin ito sa future ng team na para lalo kang tumitibay pag ka ganitong sitwasyon. So a Game 5 would be good for us as a team. This Saturday pag balik namin kailangan mas prepared kami for a very physical game, noting how the Hotshots played physically in the previous game.” Guiao added. “On our end, siguro kailangan kaming mag step up in terms of being a little bit more aggressive defensively and medyo yung transition game namin, yung running game namin, I don’t know if we’re tired or we’re a little slower or not able to get into the pace that we would usually be playing,” told Guiao. The winner of the series will play TNT Tropang Giga in the best-of-seven semis that begins on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.

Japan B.League squad, Ryukyu Golden Kings survive Meralco’s power surge to get their first win in the East Asia Super League (EASL), 77-74, Wednesday night, October 16, at the Okinawa Arena, Japan.The runner-up of last year’s B.League weathered the storm that the Bolts made in the final 2:50 minutes of play.Meralco came back from a 66-77 deficit through an 8-0 run to cut down the lead to only three points with 41.7 seconds remaining.Allen Durham, who’s playing against his former team for the first time, had a chance to force the game into overtime but his attempt was swatted by Ryukyu import Victor Law.Durham finished the game with 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while his fellow Bolts reinforcement DJ Kennedy produced 30 markers and 12 boards.Chris Newsome led the local unit with 18.The winning team relied on the heroics of Law, who contributed a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.Jack Cooley, the Golden Kings other import, also got 18 markers along with seven boards, while naturalized player Alex Kirk put up 12.Ryukyu now topped Group B with a 1-0 record, while Meralco split their games to have a 1-1 team standing.The next game assignment for the Bolts will be the Busan KCC Egis of the Korean Basketball League whom they will face on November 13 at the Philsports Arena.

Cignal launched its ambitious campaign by putting its whole force on Farm Fresh and crushing them with a swift victory of 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center Antipolo on Saturday, November 16.The HD Spikers were led by team captain Ces Molina and Jovelyn Fernandez, who took Chin Basas' starting opposite spiker position.Molina scored a game-high 14 points, including 11 attacks and three serve aces. Meanwhile, Fernandez performed admirably in her new role, scoring 11 markers — 10 of which came from attacks. Cignal played a nearly flawless game, committing only 11 errors, while Farm Fresh battled with 21 unforced blunders.

La Salle-EcoOil concluded its 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference campaign with straight sets, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18, victory over VNS on Sunday, December 1, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.The Green Oilers missed out on the Final Four despite a strong start that included four straight victories."I said just enjoy it. It was somehow disappointing in a sense that we didn't make it to the Final Four, but I'm hoping that with all our losses, we have learned something," said head coach Jose Roque, reflecting on the team's campaign.

Farm Fresh emerged victorious over sister team ZUS Coffee off a four-set decision, 26-24, 13-25, 25-21, 25-19, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, December 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. After barely winning the opening set and getting slumped in the second, the Foxies regained their rhythm and immediately corrected the mistakes in the last two frames to secure the win and post an even 2-2 win-loss record.Jovelyn Gonzaga's attack error at 19-15 gave the Foxies a four-point lead after the game had started neck and neck in the fourth set.With momentum on their side, Trisha Tubu propelled Farm Fresh ahead to gain its largest lead at 23-16.“We observe how they move, and if we see something that doesn’t align with their usual play, we need to correct it immediately, and that’s what happened earlier,” said Farm Fresh head coach Edson Bocboc. “In the first two sets, they were really off, so those are the things we need to fix. They still need to get used to competing and playing in more matches,” he added.

Petro Gazz wins another game against PLDT.Petro Gazz got their fourth win in the PVL All-Filipino Conference against PLDT, 12-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-20, on Tuesday night, December 10, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City .Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo led the Angels to victory. Van Sickle poured in 21 points on 18 attacks, two blocks and one service ace, while Pablo added her 19 markers on 17 attacks and two rejections.“We just stayed together. We make things happen in every challenge that we face. We have a good turnaround. We just focused on our game. We know this team can be better and we showed it today,” Van Sickle said.

Chery Tiggo bounced back to the winning column after overpowering Galeries Tower in a five-set thriller, 30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-8, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference over the weekend at Philsports Arena.The team led by Norman Miguel improved to a 4-2 win-loss record, while Galeries finished the year with a 1-5 record after losing in five sets for the seventh time in 15 conference losses."It was a real effort from everyone. During the first three sets, it was like that, our moves weren't right, it seemed clumsy. But it came out in the fourth set," said Chery Tiggo’s ace Cess Robles during the postgame interview.The Crossovers’ victory was bannered by Robles, who registered a game-high 21 points anchored on 20 attacks and an ace along with 11 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.Captain Aby Maraño contributed a 15-point output, while Pauline Gaston, who assisted the team clinch the fourth set, scored a total of 14 markers.Jen Nierva took care of Chery Tiggo’s defense with 21 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions as Jas Nabor orchestrated the team’s play, tossing 13 excellent sets.Gaston’s several attack points helped the Crossovers rally to a 9-2 run from 16-14 deficit in Set 4, tying the match at two sets apiece.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters showcased grit and determination but ultimately fell short against Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Volleyball Club in a thrilling five-set match, 24-26, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 9-15, in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Tuesday, April 22, at the Philsports Arena.After falling behind two sets to none, the High Speed Hitters mounted an impressive comeback, winning the third and fourth sets behind the efforts of Savi Davison and Cuban import Wilma Salas. Davison spearheaded the third-set resurgence, while Salas provided crucial support in the fourth to force a deciding set.PLDT appeared poised for a breakthrough in the fifth set, pulling even at 8-all. However, a center line fault swung the momentum back to the Thai side, sparking a decisive 7-1 run from Nakhon Ratchasima that sealed the match. The rally was capped by a service ace, ending PLDT’s spirited challenge.

Hulk Hogan, the legendary face of 1980s professional wrestling who successfully transitioned into acting, has died at the age of 71.Standing at 6-foot-7 with his signature bandana and blond handlebar mustache, Hogan—born Terry Bollea—was a Hall of Famer whose charisma and ring presence helped transform professional wrestling into mainstream entertainment.According to reports in the U.S., his manager Chris Volo said that Hogan passed away at his home in Florida. Some reports cite "cardiac arrest" as the cause of death.Hogan’s larger-than-life persona, billed as a heroic all-American, drew millions of fans, turning professional wrestling into a global phenomenon and financial powerhouse. Debuting in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1979, he became a household name in the mid-1980s alongside icons like Andre the Giant and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.His brand of "Hulkamania" extended beyond the ring, leading to roles in films like Rocky III and No Holds Barred, as well as appearances on TV shows such as Baywatch.Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” WWE shared on social media, extending condolences to his family, friends, and fans.Hogan’s career was not without controversy. He faced public scrutiny after an intimate video was leaked, and later for his use of racist language, which led to his firing from WWE in 2015. He apologized and was eventually reinstated into the Hall of Fame.In recent years, Hogan was an outspoken supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, memorably appearing at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he ripped off his shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top.Years of performing took a toll on Hogan’s health. He was married three times and is survived by two children from his first marriage to Linda.

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. 

Young Filipina golfing star Rianne Malixi won the US Girls’ Junior Championship at the El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 20 (Sunday, July 21st in Manila).Just a year after finishing as the runner-up, the Filipina golfer defeated Asterisk Talley in the final.Malixi claimed victory in record-setting fashion, with her 8-and-7 win over the American marking the largest winning margin in the tournament's history. At 17, Malixi redeemed herself from last year's narrow one-hole loss to Filipino-American Kiara Romero, becoming the second golfer representing the Philippines to win the championship, following Princess Superal’s 2014 achievement.“I’m getting pretty emotional right now because I know how much hard work I’ve put in over the past years,” said a teary-eyed Malixi in an interview with Rappler. “I’m not the only one who made a lot of sacrifices. I’d like to credit my family, especially my dad.”Malixi dominated the first half of the 36-hole match, taking a commanding 6-up lead by the 18th hole with nine birdies. Although Talley cut the deficit to 5-up by the 24th hole, Malixi sealed her victory by birdying the 25th and 27th holes and parring the 29th, which Talley bogeyed, clinching the title with seven holes remaining. Malixi finished with 14 birdies and no bogeys.Her triumph over Talley earned Malixi a spot in the 2025 US Women’s Open, where Japan’s Yuka Saso, who won the major for the Philippines in 2021, will defend her title. Malixi plans to attend Duke University in 2025. (PB)

The Philippines-Davao NTB Wolves barely broke out a sweat after outclassing New Zealand-Fil Nation Select, 81-44, in the PSL Global Championship Challenge on Thursday, July 18, at the Victoria Sports Club in Quezon City.Seth Abiendo led the charge for the Philippines Born 2004 team, which remained undefeated in four games. Abiendo finished with 16 markers on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the field.Davao NTB Wolves will next face UK-KAMPI on Friday, July 19.Over at the young division, the Philippines Born 2006 team, represented by Cebu-University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR), picked up its fourth straight win after hammering UK-KAMPI Basketball over a 104-67 victory.Jan Vince Oringo showcased another excellent performance as he exploded with 26 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists and powered the Philippines Under-18 squad to another convincing win.North America, on the other hand, scored a repeat win over previous contender, Philippines-Pampanga, 85-68 in the Born 2008 division.Dominic Tuason tallied 5-of-9 3-point shots on his way to finishing with 27 points to lead the charge for the young Filipino cagers of the North American Basketball Association (NABA) - Intercity supported squad.

As the Alas Pilipinas Women made their way to Japan for their training camp, the nationals will be missing the services of De La Salle University's Angel Canino due to duties and responsibilities with the Lady Spikers.Canino, who played a pivotal role in the Philippines’ historic bronze finish at the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup earlier this year, will miss the two-week training camp, which serves as the team’s preparation for the Southeast Asian Volleyball League (SEA V.League) next month.National head coach Jorge de Brito confirmed the development as questions were raised about Canino’s absence from the Alas squad photo upon their arrival in Kansai, Japan.“She has her duties with DLSU and we support her commitment there. Sure, we would love it if she could join the national team camp, but it is all good,” said de Brito.The national team will have mainstays Jia De Guzman, Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Jema Galanza, Jen Nierva, Vanie Gandler, Fifi Sharma, Faith Nisperos, Dell Palomata, Cherry Nunag, Thea Gagate, and Julia Coronel.Fresh off winning the Shakey’s Super League National Invitational tournament, National University’s Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Arah Panique are also in the squad.Alas Pilipinas also welcomed two Filipino-Americans, setter Tia Andaya and libero Hannah Stires, to the training pool from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) tryouts in the United States.Vietnam will host the first week of the women’s SEA V.League 2024 from August 2 to 4, with Thailand providing the venue for the second week from August 9 to 11.