Rain or Shine Elasto Painters wiped out an early 21-point deficit to pummel the NLEX Road Warriors, 124-105, on Wednesday night and became the lone undefeated team in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup.The Elasto Painters fell behind early, 45-24, but managed to still take the lead at the half 58-54 on their way to a 19-point victory at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.Rain or Shine fell behind, 40-24, at the end of the first quarter and went on an 18-0 run at one point in the second quarter to turn it around and finished the game with a convincing victory.

The University of the Philippines will be left with a significant hole when the UAAP Season 87 begins with one of their top guns set to miss out the entire women’s basketball tournament.Reigning Rookie of the Year Favour Onoh will sit out her supposed sophomore season as she continues to recover from injuries to both knees. The UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development confirmed the development on Tuesday, September 3, signifying that they are keeping an eye on Onoh’s complete recovery instead of constraining her to join the team in pursuit to end a four-decade title drought.The Fighting Maroons hoped Onoh’s return would have been possible even in the later schedule, but their camp ultimately decided to do what’s best for the young hooper’s career.

Filipino netters Bambi Zoleta and Princess Catindig failed to advance in the medal round of the women’s singles of the 17th World Soft Tennis Championships in Anseong, Korea, early Thursday, September 6.Both netters lost in the quarterfinals as Zoleta bowed, 2-4, against Chiang Min-Yu of Chinese Taipei while Catindig was ruled by Fu Xiao Chen of China with 1-4. Despite the upset in the women’s singles, the Philippines will carry on its bid for a medal in the World Championship following Zoleta and Patrick Mendoza’s superb performance of defeating Slovakia, 4-0, in the Mixed Doubles Round of 64.Meanwhile, Bien Zoleta-Mañalac and Dheo Talatayod won against Cambodia, 4-1, in the Round of 32.The last time the Philippine Soft Tennis set foot in the medal round was in the 2015 World Championships in New Delhi, India where Zoleta-Mañalac nabbed a bronze in women’s singles.

The Philippines’ stunning momentum came to an abrupt stop as it fell to former world champion Armenia, 2.5-1.5, crashing out of the Top 10 after six rounds of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall in Budapest, Hungary.Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra essayed yet another victory when he sent his second super Grandmaster in Haik Martirosyan to his knees, defeating his Armenian rival with a 63-move win of a Nimzo-Indian on top board. The Philippines’ quest to add another crown in their growing collections was barred when newly minted GM Daniel Quizon, International Master Paulo Bersamina, and GM John Paul Gomez succumbed to their rivals, concluding their games in draws.The stinging result relegated their ranking out of the Top 10. From a share of No. 7, the national men’s team stumbled to a share of No. 21 with eight match points. On the other hand, the Filipinas bounced back after knocking Bolivia, 3-1, with Shania Mae Mendoza, Janelle Mae Frayna, and Jan Jodilyn Fronda posting victories on the top board to take the No. 34 spot with eight points in the team standings. The win pushed the women’s team to a share of 22nd spot with a big group of eight pointers.The Filipino woodpushers will battle 27th-seeded Croatia, while the Filipina team will clash with 26th-seeded Argentina eyeing a win that would keep their hopes contending alive.

While the quarterfinals cast is already complete for the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, the game between Converge and Magnolia on September 23 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium will determine the final match-ups in the playoffs.The two teams are now tied with 5-4 slate, and the winner of their 5:00 pm game will determine which squad will be the No. 3 seed in the next round and will face Group B’s No. 2 seed, San Miguel Beermen in a best-of-five series.Meanwhile, the loser of the match will face the top-seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

TNT booked the second ticket in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semi-finals after dispatching the NLEX Road Warriors, 125-96, in their game last night, October 1, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The Tropang Giga got the 3-1 triumph in their best-of-five series with a 29-point blowout to continue its journey to their title defense bid.Rondae Hollis-Jefferson once again led TNT with his 35 points and 11 rebounds, while Rey Nambatac delivered 19 markers on a 7-of-12 shooting from the field, and RR Pogoy also contributed 18 on 6-of-10 shooting.Calvin Oftana had his own share by manufacturing 11 points and grabbing 10 boards.At the end of first quarter, the Tropang Giga already erected a 10-point lead. Then, they started the second period with an 11-0 blast, and never looked back from that moment to finally seal the deal at the end of the game.With the quick series win against the Road Warriors, TNT will enjoy some rest while awaiting the Rain or Shine-Magnolia knock-out matchup on whom they will play in the best-of-seven final four.

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.

San Miguel averted disaster after dispatching the Converge FiberXers in the toe-to-toe Game 5 of their quarterfinals match-up, 109-105, on Sunday night at the Ynares Center, Antipolo.June Mar Fajardo showed why he's an eight-time MVP by producing a monster double-double of 40 points and 24 rebounds to lead the Beermen in entering the semis of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.Fajardo went 15-of-27 from the field and shot 10-of-12 from the free throw line to carry much of the load in SMB's triumph.Though having a lot of contributions, JMF said that they all step-up in their do-or-die victory.

The first-ever father and son duo happened on the opening night of the NBA's 2024-25 Season when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Minnesota Timberwolves, 110-103, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.The historical feat happened in the latter part of the first period when LeBron and Bronny James were fielded in together. They shared the court for more than two minutes.According to LeBron, family is the reason why he wanted to play together with his son in the league.

Cignal overcame a second frame deficit to win the next two, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, against Chery Tiggo in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday, November 21.Fueled by their excellent patience and strong floor defense, the HD Spikers outperformed the Crossovers in a battle of spurts to stay undefeated in two games and tied Akari and PLDT for first place on the leaderboard."Happy because the team performed well but we know that is still not what we want to happen. The good thing is, while we encountered that situation, we were able to recover," said Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos.

Creamline prevailed in the highly anticipated rematch of last season’s conference, trouncing Akari in straight sets, 26-24, 25-17, 25-16, to secure its second consecutive victory in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Candon City Arena on Saturday, November 23.The Cool Smashers were boosted by the return of three-time MVP Tots Carlos, who made her first appearance since missing the import-laden event and Invitational Conference due to a knee injury.Creamline took a 16-10 lead in the third set thanks to a 7-2 run led by Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons, who each had three and two points.Bea de Leon would help the Cool Smashers gain ground, and Pau Soriano, a substitute, would kill block Faith Nisperos to complete the victory.

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.

The Rice Vanguards seem very determined to bring back the championship in Nueva Ecija after failing to do so in the past two seasons.In their latest move, NERV signed the Marcelino twins who incidentally were part of the Zamboanga Master Sardines that they beat in the 2022 MBPL finals.On their Facebook page, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards welcomed former MVP Jaycee Marcelino and his twin brother, Jayvee, to their turf.The team expects the relentless twins to bring their explosiveness, dynamics, and domination to Nueva Ecija.

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.

Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) on Thursday maintained before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that no employer-employee relationship existed between the university and former Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin during the continuation of the clarificatory hearing.Baldwin and ADMU President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ did not attend the proceedings, but were represented by the university's legal counsels, Atty. Philippe Quimbo and Atty. Krishna Santos.During the hearing, Ateneo presented Baldwin's consultancy agreement, arguing that he served as a consultant rather than a regular employee. It was also disclosed that Baldwin initially entered the Philippines on a tourist visa before the university assisted him in obtaining the appropriate work visa to legally work in the country.However, DOLE Undersecretary Gerard Mosquera questioned Ateneo's position after noting that Baldwin's contract contained specific duties and restrictions, which could indicate that the university exercised substantial control over his work—a key factor in determining the existence of an employer-employee relationship.

The UAAP is making an important statement even before Season 89 officially gets underway: when the country calls, the league is willing to make room.The University Athletic Association of the Philippines has scaled down its September men’s basketball schedule to just five game days, allowing several of its student-athletes to represent the Philippines in major international competitions.With players set to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas squads in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan and the FIBA 3x3 Under-23 World Cup in Wuhan, China, the UAAP adjusted its calendar rather than force its young stars to choose between school and country.It is a decision that puts a familiar school rivalry on pause—but places national pride front and center.UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tips off on September 13, with the defending champion De La Salle Green Archers facing the National University Bulldogs in the opening-day main event at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.But unlike a typical September packed with collegiate basketball, the league will hold games on only five dates.A schedule built around the flagThe UAAP will stage September games on:September 13 — Smart Araneta ColiseumSeptember 16 — Mall of Asia ArenaSeptember 19 — Smart Araneta ColiseumSeptember 26 — Mall of Asia ArenaSeptember 30 — Mall of Asia ArenaThe unusual scheduling reflects the number of UAAP student-athletes expected to be involved in national-team duties during the month.For UAAP president Mark Molina of Far Eastern University, the decision reflects what collegiate sports should ultimately be about: developing athletes not only for their schools, but also for the country.“We have always believed that the UAAP’s mission goes beyond the competition,” Molina said.The league president stressed that the UAAP takes pride whenever its student-athletes receive the opportunity to represent the Philippines, adding that the organization is willing to adjust its calendar whenever necessary to allow them to serve the national team.From school colors to Philippine colorsSeveral familiar UAAP names will temporarily trade their school jerseys for the national colors.La Salle’s Luis Pablo and Doy Dungo, together with UST’s Koji Buenaflor, have been called up for the Philippine men’s 3x3 basketball team for the Asian Games, scheduled for September 21 to 25.Meanwhile, Kacey Dela Rosa and other UAAP standouts are set to bolster the Philippine women’s 5-on-5 basketball team.Their involvement underscores the growing role of the UAAP as a pipeline for Philippine basketball.For these young players, the opportunity represents more than simply another tournament.Playing for their respective schools means competing for championships, pride and campus bragging rights.Playing for the Philippines means carrying the expectations of an entire nation.La Salle begins its title defenseBefore some of its players head off to national duty, however, the defending champions will first begin their UAAP title defense.La Salle faces NU on September 13, immediately setting the tone for another highly anticipated season of collegiate basketball.The Green Archers enter the season carrying the pressure that comes with being champions, while the rest of the league looks to knock them off their perch.But the early portion of the season will unfold under an unusual circumstance.Some of the league's biggest young talents will soon be pulled away from the UAAP hardwood to compete internationally.And rather than viewing that as an inconvenience, the UAAP has chosen to embrace it.A bigger stage for UAAP starsThe scheduling adjustment is also a reminder of the increasingly important relationship between collegiate basketball and the national team program.UAAP players are no longer simply future prospects waiting for their chance.Many are already being trusted with national-team responsibilities while still in college.The experience of competing against international opponents can only add another layer to their development—and potentially make them better players when they eventually return to the UAAP floor.For the league, that makes the temporary disruption worthwhile.The UAAP can wait. The national team cannot.The rivalries will still be there.The championships will still be there.But opportunities to represent the Philippines on the international stage do not come around every day.And for the UAAP, the message is clear:School pride matters. But when the Philippine flag is on the line, the flag comes first.

The Philippines may not have advanced to the next stage of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, but the Filipinas left the global stage with something far more important—a historic first chapter.Making their maiden appearance in the prestigious tournament, the Philippine women’s baseball team finished with a 2-3 record, highlighted by two statement victories that showed the country can compete among the world’s best.The biggest breakthrough came against Cuba, where the Filipinas stunned the highly ranked side with a commanding 6-0 victory—the Philippines’ first-ever World Cup win over Cuba.They followed it up with another impressive performance, defeating Great Britain, 6-2, to further announce their arrival on the international stage.For team captain Veronica Velasco, the significance of their campaign goes beyond the results.“Yung unang panalo ng Pilipinas sa World Cup ay ginawa ng kababaihan.”It was a historic moment for Philippine baseball, and one the team hopes will inspire a new generation of female players.A tough introduction to the world stageThe Filipinas opened their World Cup campaign against defending champion Japan, suffering a defeat but gaining valuable confidence from their performance against one of the tournament’s strongest teams.That experience proved crucial.The Philippines bounced back with victories over Cuba and Great Britain, displaying the talent, resilience and competitiveness needed to challenge established baseball nations.However, the road to the 2027 World Cup Finals in Rockford, Illinois, ultimately ended after losses to host Chinese-Taipei, 8-2, and Venezuela, 10-0.Head coach Isaac “Saki” Bacarisas believes those setbacks provided an important lesson.The team now has a clearer understanding of the level required to compete at the highest stage—and, perhaps more importantly, a better idea of the areas that need improvement.More than a debutBacarisas remains confident that the Filipinas can return to the World Cup and perform even better.The team’s historic campaign was made possible after the Philippines received a wildcard entry into this year’s tournament. Rather than simply being grateful for the opportunity, however, the Filipinas used it to make their presence felt.A 2-3 record may not tell the entire story.A first World Cup win over Cuba does.Two victories on the sport’s biggest stage do.And the confidence gained from facing some of the best teams in the world could prove even more valuable in the years ahead.For Velasco and her teammates, this was a chance to make history.They did.Now comes the harder part: building on it.The Filipinas have seen what the world stage looks like. They have experienced the pressure, measured themselves against elite opposition and discovered exactly what separates them from the teams they aspire to beat.The next time they return, they will not be first-timers anymore.They will be a team with experience, belief and unfinished business.The Filipinas didn’t simply make their World Cup debut. They announced that Philippine women’s baseball belongs on the world stage—and their story may only be beginning. 🇵🇭⚾🔥

Before John “Rambo” Chicano stood on top of a SEA Games podium, he was simply a young father trying to make a living.He needed a job to support his daughter, so he accepted work as a helper and janitor at a bike shop.He had no elite athletic résumé.In fact, he had one glaring problem for someone who would eventually become a triathlete:He couldn't swim.But someone saw something in him.The bike shop owner was national triathlon coach Melvyn Fausto, who recognized potential in Chicano and decided to teach him from the ground up.It was hardly an easy beginning.Chicano was learning one of the most fundamental skills of triathlon while simultaneously trying to survive in the water. During his early training, he was still nearly drowning.Fausto, however, kept teaching.And Chicano kept showing up.Just three months after beginning his training, he was already competing.From learning to swim to racing for medalsWhat started as a job became the beginning of an unlikely sporting journey.Chicano quickly developed into a competitive triathlete, eventually earning his first major SEA Games medal in 2017.He won silver, finishing behind fellow Filipino teammate Nikko Huelgas.Two years later, Chicano went one step further.Competing on home soil at the 2019 SEA Games in Subic, close to his native Olongapo City, he captured gold in the men's individual triathlon.The following day, he added another gold medal in the mixed relay.The man who once struggled to stay afloat was now standing on top of a SEA Games podium.More than a medalChicano's story is remarkable not simply because of the medals he eventually won.It is because of where the journey began.There was no obvious indication that a young father working as a bike shop helper and janitor would become a champion triathlete.There was simply an opportunity—and someone willing to recognize his potential.Fausto provided the guidance.Chicano provided the commitment.The transformation did not happen overnight.It came through learning a skill he initially couldn't do, enduring difficult training and continuing to show up even when the path ahead was uncertain.And that may be the most powerful lesson in his story.Someone saw what others didn'tSports often celebrates athletes after they have already made it.We see the medals.The podiums.The national team uniform.The victories.What we don't always see is the person before all of that—the athlete who is still learning, struggling and trying to find a way forward.John Chicano was once that person.He was a young father looking for work.A helper.A janitor.A man who couldn't even swim.Then someone looked beyond the job he was doing and saw an athlete.Chicano didn't waste the opportunity.From cleaning a bike shop to becoming a two-time 2019 SEA Games gold medalist, his journey is a reminder that talent doesn't always announce itself.Sometimes, it needs someone to notice.And sometimes, all that person needs is the courage to keep showing up.Athletes are people first.And behind every champion, there may be a story that began long before anyone knew their name. 🇵🇭🔥Off court only. Cool things only.

Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara didn’t just win a medal.THEY OPENED A DOOR PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S BEACH VOLLEYBALL HAS NEVER WALKED THROUGH BEFORE. 🇵🇭🔥The young Filipinas captured the PHILIPPINES’ FIRST-EVER ASIAN GAMES BEACH VOLLEYBALL MEDAL, rallying from a set down to stun China, 13-21, 23-21, 15-13, and seize bronze in Aichi-Nagoya.But bronze shouldn’t be the finish line.IT SHOULD BE THE LAUNCHPAD.They swept Japan to reach the semifinals, pushed Thailand in a tight battle, then showed nerves of steel when the bronze was on the line.That wasn’t a lucky run.THAT WAS A STATEMENT.A statement that Filipino women can fight—and win—on Asia’s biggest beach volleyball stage.And now?THE NEXT STAGE IS LOS ANGELES.LA28. 🇺🇸🔥The Olympic dream suddenly doesn’t feel so far away.Because the question is no longer:“CAN FILIPINO WOMEN COMPETE IN BEACH VOLLEYBALL?”They already answered that in Aichi-Nagoya.The question now is:“HOW FAR CAN THEY GO?”That answer won’t come from one medal.It will come from more international tournaments. More world-class opponents. Better preparation. Stronger support. And the resources to turn Asian Games potential into Olympic-level performance.Because you don’t build an Olympic team by celebrating a breakthrough and moving on.YOU BUILD IT BY INVESTING IN WHAT COMES NEXT.🥉 BRONZE TODAY.🇺🇸 LA28 TOMORROW.And maybe—just maybe—this is where the Philippine women’s beach volleyball Olympic story begins.PROGELLA. PAGARA. REMEMBER THE NAMES.THEY MADE HISTORY IN ASIA.NOW LET’S HELP THEM MAKE NOISE IN THE WORLD.

Before Margielyn Didal became an Olympic finalist and one of the Philippines’ most recognizable skateboarders, she was simply a Cebuana kid waiting for her turn to borrow a board.She grew up in Lahug, Cebu City, in a family that knew the meaning of hard work. Her father, Lito, worked as a carpenter. Her mother, Julie, worked as a housekeeper and sidewalk vendor. Even as a child, Margielyn helped sell kwek-kwek.Then, at 12, she discovered skateboarding.She saw local skaters riding in her neighborhood and wanted to try it herself. There was just one problem:SHE DIDN’T HAVE A SKATEBOARD.So she borrowed one.She waited for her turn. She fell. She got back up. And slowly, the borrowed board became the starting point of something much bigger.But talent alone wasn’t enough.Without a cellphone of her own, Didal found another way to learn. She paid ₱5 for 30 minutes of internet access at a computer shop, watching skateboarding tutorials in slow motion and studying every movement she could.Thirty minutes.Five pesos.One dream.AND SHE MADE EVERY SECOND COUNT.The road was anything but easy.Injuries forced her to stop. Doubt tested her confidence. Comebacks demanded patience. But she kept returning to the sport that had captured her heart.Then came the breakthrough that changed everything.On August 29, 2018, at just 19 years old, Didal won gold in women’s street skateboarding at the Asian Games in Indonesia.The girl who once waited to borrow a skateboard had just conquered Asia.But she wasn’t finished.At the 2019 SEA Games, she added two more gold medals—in women’s Game of Skate and women’s street.Then came the biggest stage of them all.At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Didal reached the final and finished seventh.Think about that journey.From a Cebu neighborhood.From helping sell kwek-kwek.From borrowing a skateboard.From watching tricks on a computer for ₱5.TO THE ASIAN GAMES PODIUM.TO TWO SEA GAMES GOLDS.TO AN OLYMPIC FINAL.That isn’t just a skateboarding story.THAT IS THE STORY OF A GIRL WHO REFUSED TO LET HER CIRCUMSTANCES DECIDE HOW FAR SHE COULD GO.Her first skateboard may have been borrowed.Her opportunities may have started small.But the dream?THAT WAS ALWAYS HERS.And perhaps that is Margielyn Didal’s greatest legacy.Somewhere today, another Filipino kid may be watching a skateboarder and thinking, “Gusto ko rin.”Maybe that kid doesn’t have a board.Maybe there’s no proper training facility.Maybe the dream seems too big.But Margielyn has already shown them something powerful:YOU DON’T NEED TO START WITH EVERYTHING.YOU JUST NEED TO START.She borrowed a skateboard.Then she made history with it.