Barangay Ginebra walloped NLEX, 119-91, on Tuesday to get back on winning track in the 49th Season Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.Coming from a 95-88 upset by Blackwater, Ginebra fired on all cylinders in the first half with a 60-percent clip from the field and ended it with a 63-41 lead.Stephen Holt played his best game as a Gin King, leading the team in scoring with 26 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing off six assists.Maverick Ahanmisi added 20 markers for the team while Scottie Thompson and RJ Abarrientos also played their best game for the conference by producing 19 points each in helping the Gin Kings evened their record at 2-2 in Group B.Resident import Justine Brownlee put up only 13 markers in 38 minutes of play but still grabbed seven boards and dished nine dimes.

Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio bared that she is determined to end the Philippines’ century-long quest for an elusive Olympic boxing gold.It was a change of heart for the two-time Olympic medalist after insinuating at the 2024 Paris Games being her final curtain call of competing in the quadrennial showpiece.Despite once again missing out on the top prize, Petecio expressed her desire to give it a try again as the Olympic fire still ignites within her.

Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater will face each other in a rematch during the second round of PBA Season 49 Governor’s Cup elimination round.Both teams are targeting their fourth win of the conference when they clash tonight in the main event of the double-header at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.In their first meeting, the Bossing stunned the Gin Kings 95-88 during the debut game of George King and gave the team their first win of the season after failing their first three.King, a former NBA player who wore Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks jerseys, tallied 33 points and collared 19 rebounds in that battle. Since he reinforced Blackwater, they were on a roll recording a three-game win streak. They have defeated the winless Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 123-11, and the NLEX Road Warriors, 110-109.

Ateneo de Manila University narrowly escaped a late-game surge by archrival De La Salle University to triumph, 65-62, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday, September 15, at Adamson Gym.The Lady Blue Eagles built a commanding 47-29 lead early in the third quarter anchored from dominant performances of reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kacey Dela Rosa, Junize Calago, rookie Kai Oani, and Nigerian center Sarah Makanjuola.Despite ruling the period with a comfortable 51-38 cushion, a game surge in the fourth quarter helmed by Luisa San Juan ignited a comeback for the Lady Archers. 

“Super” Marcio Lassiter has become the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) all-time leader in three-points made on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Going into their game against sibling rival Barangay Ginebra, Lassiter just needed three 3-pointers to surpass Jimmy Alapag’s 1,250 record. And the SMB faithful expected that to happen.The sweet-shooting guard didn’t disappoint their fans as he reached the milestone in the first quarter alone where he drained four triples - the first two to tie the record of the “Mighty Mouse” while the third one broke it and the fourth one to set another milestone.He made another two in the second half to further etch his legacy as the best three-pointer in the first ever pay-for-play league in Asia.Lassiter finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from downtown to be awarded as the Best Player of the game and tallied a new three-point record of 1,254. The game ball used in the historic feat was awarded by Commissioner Willie Marcial during half. Lassiter was joined on center stage by wife and five children.Alapag, who texted Lassiter on the eve of the game before Cio targets the historical feat, is now ranked no. 2 with 1,250 3-pointers made while the “Triggerman” Allan Caidad is at third place with 1,242.Lassiter was the fastest and most efficient to get the “three-point king” honors as he did it in only 537 games, shooting 39 percent off the arc.Caidic did it in 598 games while shooting 37 percent. Alapag, on the other hand, did it in 601 games behind 36 percent shooting.The Beermen sniper still has a chance to make a better legacy by adding more three-pointers to his name as he is still an active player and not yet announcing when he will hang his sneakers.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters denied the NLEX Road Warriors a game win as Adrian Nocum delivered a late-game surge to secure a hard-fought 123-114 overtime victory in the 2024 PBA Governor’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, September 17.The Elasto Painters bounced back from their beatdown from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as they bravely conquered the standout performances of Road Warriors import DeQuan Jones posting a 49-point explosion and Robert Bolick tallying 28 markers, 11 boards, and nine assists. Adrian Nocum steered the overtime gameplay as he dropped seven points that gave the team a six-point cushion at 120-114. Anton Asistio then made the final say after making his 25th point, sealing the team’s sixth win. 

The Blackwater Bossing exits the PBA Season 49 Governors Cup with their heads held high as they defeated the top team in their group, Rain or Shine, 113-118, on Monday, September 23, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.George King led Blackwater with his 64 points — the franchise record for most points. He was 18-of-35 from the field — 3-of-8 from four point area, 2-of-5 from the rainbow arc, and 13-of-22 from twos.King also set another franchise record by shooting 20-of-20 from the free throw line, which also tied the second all-time most foul shots made without a miss in a single game that Wes Matthews first recorded in 1991.

The Filipina woodpushers made a historic mark for the Philippines after winning the gold medal in Group B and finishing 24th overall in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad women’s division in Budapest, Hungary. The Philippine women’s team wrapped up their campaign with Shania Mae Mendoza, Janelle Mae Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda, and Ruelle Canino succeeding across all boards to grasp a 4-0 victory against the Brazilians in their final assignment.The Filipinas tied for 22nd place with 14 match points along with 14 other countries and 24th overall after tiebreaks were applied, clinching the first gold for the country in an Olympiad since 2006 Turin edition when the Philippine women’s squad of Sheerie Joey Lomibao, Catherine Pereña, Sherily Cua, and Beverly Mendoza ruled Group C. It was also the best finish since the team of Girme Fontanilla, Mila Emperado, and Ma. Cristina Santos-Fidaer placed 22nd overall in the 1988 edition in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Denice Zamboanga has officially relinquished the ONE Women's Atomweight MMA World Championship after welcoming her first child with husband Fritz Biagtan.In a social media post on Tuesday, the reigning champion announced her decision to vacate the title, citing her desire to focus on motherhood while allowing other athletes in the division the opportunity to compete for the championship.Known as “The Menace,” Zamboanga became the first Filipina MMA world champion and said the decision came after careful prayer and reflection.She acknowledged that stepping away from the throne was not easy but emphasized that it was the right choice for this chapter of her life and for the contenders pursuing their dreams in the division.Zamboanga’s decision marks the end of a historic reign, as she shifts her focus from defending a world title to embracing a new role as a mother while leaving a lasting legacy in Philippine mixed martial arts.

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams opened their partnership in impressive fashion, cruising into the quarterfinals of the Bad Homburg Open doubles competition with a straight-sets victory on Tuesday.The newly formed tandem defeated Alexandra Osborne and Catherine Harrison, 6-3, 6-4, on Court 1 to secure a winning start and move one step closer to a deep tournament run.Eala and Williams immediately established control of the match, breaking early and racing to a commanding 4-1 lead in the opening set. Their aggressive play and strong court coverage kept their opponents under pressure as they comfortably claimed the first set, 6-3.The second set presented a tougher challenge. Harrison and Osborne found their rhythm and capitalized on key opportunities to take their first lead of the contest at 2-1. The unseeded pair continued to battle, matching Eala and Williams point for point and eventually drawing level at 4-4.With the match hanging in the balance, the Filipino-American duo showcased their experience and composure. Eala and Williams elevated their game in the closing stages, winning the final two games to seal the victory and complete a dominant debut performance together.The win sets up a quarterfinal clash against second-seeded pair Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia and Olivia Nicholls of the United Kingdom.For Eala, the victory marks another significant milestone as she continues to share the court with one of tennis' greatest champions. Their successful opening performance has generated excitement among tennis fans, with the pair now aiming to build momentum as they pursue the Bad Homburg Open doubles crown.

In Philippine volleyball, club rivalries fuel packed arenas and passionate fan bases. But when the country calls, even the biggest stars are expected to wear one uniform.That message was reinforced as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) announced that players officially representing Alas Pilipinas will prioritize national team duties over participation in the upcoming 2027 PVL On Tour Showdown. The league's decision underscores a principle that extends beyond the preseason tournament: representing the Philippines remains the highest honor for any athlete.The policy is straightforward. Players included in the official Alas Pilipinas delegation will not be allowed to compete in the preseason event while fulfilling national team commitments, particularly during international competitions and training camps. Only athletes who are not part of the official delegation and have no national team obligations will be eligible to participate in the On Tour Showdown.The move highlights the growing coordination between the country's professional volleyball league and the national program. As Philippine volleyball continues to make strides on the international stage, ensuring that the national team receives full commitment from its players has become increasingly important.For clubs, the ruling presents a familiar challenge. Teams may have to navigate the preseason without some of their biggest names, giving coaches an opportunity to evaluate younger players, deepen their rotations, and prepare emerging talents for larger roles. While fans may miss seeing marquee matchups during the On Tour Showdown, the absence of national team standouts reflects a greater objective.For the players themselves, balancing club and country has never been easy. Many have become household names through their performances in the PVL, yet the chance to compete under the Philippine flag carries a different kind of responsibility. International tournaments demand months of preparation, chemistry-building, and sacrifice—elements that cannot be compromised.The league's decision also sends a strong message about unity within Philippine volleyball. Rather than creating conflicts between club and national schedules, the policy emphasizes collaboration, ensuring that the country's best athletes can focus entirely on representing the nation when called upon.As the 2027 PVL On Tour Showdown approaches, fans can still expect competitive matches and fresh storylines. New faces will have opportunities to shine, while established stars wearing the Alas Pilipinas jersey will focus on elevating Philippine volleyball on the international stage.In the end, the league's directive reinforces a simple but meaningful belief: club success is celebrated, but national pride comes first. For Philippine volleyball, every step toward international excellence begins with a shared commitment to putting the country above all else.

Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson has re-signed with the defending champion New York Knicks on a one-year, $3.9 million contract.Clarkson averaged 10.8 minutes per game during the Knicks' championship run. His role as a scoring spark off the bench helped ease the workload of the team's starters and provided valuable depth throughout the 2025-2026 NBA season.His impact and influence played a crucial part in helping New York contend for and ultimately win the championship during the previous season.The Knicks captured the 2026 NBA title against the San Antonio Spurs, ending a championship drought that lasted nearly half a century.He also posted on his Instagram account following his extension with the Knicks. "still in this dream, NY! run it back!  love ," he wrote. 

Gilas Pilipinas Women's 3x3 player Beth Pettinggil shared her thoughts on Instagram after representing the country at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Xiantao Stop in China.The Gilas Women's team (Manila Gilas) made history by finishing fourth, the highest placement ever by the Philippine national team in the tournament.They defeated Paraguay, 20-17, to advance to the semifinals before falling to China, 21-11, in the semifinals.Pettinggil also made history as the first naturalized player in the Gilas Pilipinas Women's basketball program."Craziest side quest ever but I officially have Filipino citizenship and get to represent the Philippines in 3x3!!! Feeling so blessed to get to play the sport I love and compete within such a supportive and passionate community. Just the beginning with the Gilas family ," she wrote.To more side quests, Beth! 

The Alas Pilipinas Boys defeated Australia, 25-20, 30-28, 25-20, in the classification round of the 2026 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Boys' U18 Volleyball Championship on Thursday night at the Wuyuan River Gymnasium in Haikou, China.The Philippines boosted its chances of securing a best-ever ninth-place finish in the tournament—an improvement from its 11th-place finish in the 2024 edition held in Bahrain.The national team had to work hard throughout the match, especially in the second set, which was tied six times as Al-Raquib Dais traded kills with Australia's Eddie Kerwin.After Alex Liang committed a costly service error, Dais pounded a strong crosscourt kill to secure the set for Alas, 30-28.Australia was plagued by errors in the third frame as Dais continued his hot streak, allowing Alas to close out the match with a 25-20 victory.They gave away 25 points through unforced errors, while the Philippines committed only 14.The 16-year-old Dais finished with 25 points built on 21 attacks, three blocks, and one ace, while Terrence Marticion added 11 points.Australia was led by King's 12-point output and Liang's 11-point performance, but it was not enough to earn a victory.The Philippines will face either Kazakhstan or Hong Kong in the 9th-12th place classification semifinals.

Lauren Hoffman has faced many hurdles already whether in sports or in life.In the upcoming Paris Olympics, she hopes to surpass another one as she is to face the grandest hurdle of her career.Hoffman will be one of the Philippines’ track and field Olympic bets together with fellow hurdler John Cabang Tolentino and pole vaulter EJ Obiena in the athletics.The 25-year-old Filipino-American hurdler will compete in her pet event 400-meter hurdles as she vies for no less than a medal. Her Olympic journey will begin on Sunday, August 4, 6:35 (Philippine Time).When Hoffman learned about her qualification for the Paris Games, these are the first words that she uttered, "I qualified for the Olympics. Still feels so crazy to say that."Lauren, the daughter of a Filipina mother and American father, grew up in the States, and started representing the Philippine flag only in 2023, then immediately made an impact since donning the national colors.She buckled up to work and competed in that year's Asian Games in China, where she impressed right away in the 400m hurdles after finishing second second in the heats with a 57.61-second output and fifth in the finals with a 57.21 seconds performance.However, that was not enough to clinch a berth in the Paris Games. She needed to either hit the Olympic standard time of 54.85 seconds in succeeding competitions or finish within the top 40 in the world rankings.Only 32 athletes managed to meet the required time while the eight others had to rely on their Olympic rankings to punch their way to the Games. Hoffman qualified through the latter after ranking 39th as her current personal best and national record is at 55.47 seconds she set in 2022.Despite hurdling the harder path, Hoffman was just ecstatic to wave the flag once she set foot at sports' biggest stage. 

Association of Boxing Alliance of the Philippines’ (ABAP) chairman Ricky Vargas expects the five-strong Philippine boxing team to bring home a medal from the Paris Olympics.“Minimum two golds,” said Vargas. “Podium finishes for all five are very possible. They’re prepared, they’re ready. They went through a lot to get to where they are, to represent the country in the Olympics.” The fighting five are lightheavyweight (80kg) Eumir Marcial, featherweight (57kg) Carlo Paalam, lightflyweight (50kg) Aira Villegas, featherweight (57kg) Nesthy Petecio and middleweight (75kg) Hergie Bacyadan.Marcial, 28, earned his ticket by making it to the final of the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year while Villegas, 28, and Petecio, 32, got their passes at the first World Qualifying Tournament in Italy last March. Paalam, 25 and Bacyadan, 29 booked their slots at the second World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok last June.The boxing tournament in the Summer Games begins July 27 and ends August 11 when Philippine delegation flag-bearers Paalam and Petecio, and the rest of the team go for gold if they make it all the way to the final.

The Philippine bet Ernest John “EJ” Obiena came so close to ending the country’s 88-year Olympic medal drought in athletics as he placed fourth at the Paris Olympics men’s pole vault at the Stade de France early Tuesday, August 6 (Manila time).The world No. 2 and acclaimed as one of the Philippines’ strongest medal hopefuls, Obiena, who owns the Asian record of 6.0 meter clearance, failed to clear 5.95 meter height in the 12-man final and lost the bronze to Emmanouil Karalis of Greece.Like Obiena, Karalis, ranked world No. 8 in the sport, also cleared 5.90m but nipped the Filipino for the last podium spot due to fewer attempts.

Akari came out on top as the league’s last undefeated team after dealing Cignal its first loss in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena on Tuesday, August 6.The Chargers finished their Pool B games with a 15-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-22 victory against the HD Spikers, pushing them down to a 4-1 for second. American reinforcement Oly Okaro led the massive charge with 24 points anchored on 22 attacks, one ace, and one block, while Ivy Lacsina chipped in 14 markers from 12 attacks as the Chargers ended the first round with a clean 5-0 slate.Ced Domingo contributed 10, four coming from the total 12 blocks of Akari. Kamille Cal seemed to be adjusting well as the starting playmaker with 14 excellent sets to go with eight points, including three blocks.Gretchel Soltones also had an all-performance with eight points, 19 receptions, and 11 digs.HD Spikers’ Venezuelan import MJ Perez was the only one to score in double digits with 24 points, along with 11 receptions, and nine digs. Riri Meneses and Ces Molina added nine and eight markers, respectively, in the losing effort. Both teams will enter the next round as part of the top three in their group, facing the bottom three from Pool A.

Filipina weightlifter Elreen Ando might have finished outside of the podium but she set a pair of personal-best marks in the women’s weightlifting 59kg division at South Paris Arena 6 on Thursday, August 8 (Manila time).In her return to the Olympic stage, Ando registered a total lift of 230kg, with 100kg from the snatch and 130kg from the clean and jerk, both personal bests, to finish in sixth place among 12 competitors.The 26-year-old Ando eclipsed her previous records of clean and jerk and total lifts of 128kg and 228kg, respectively, which she achieved at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in April in Thailand.She also equaled the national snatch record of 100kg, which she set at the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships in Riyadh last September. Ando finished the Summer Games in sixth place, improving from her seventh-place finish with 222kg in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 64kg category. Reigning world champion Luo Shifang of China smashed all of the Olympic records in the division with a 107kg snatch, 134kg clean and jerk, and 341kg total as she bested two Tokyo gold medalists. Canada’s Maude Charron took the silver with a total of 236kg, while Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Hsing-chun secured the bronze with a total of 235 kg.The Philippines' youngest Asian champion, Vanessa Sarno, will aim to end the weightlifting team’s campaign on a high note on Saturday, August 10, in the women’s 71kg category.

Team USA stormed back from a potential upset against Serbia to return to the gold medal game in the Olympics men’s basketball tournament.The Americans defeated the Serbians 95-91 at the Bercy Arena on Friday, August 9 (PH time), after bouncing back from a 17-point deficit.Stephen Curry showcased his best of the tournament by producing 36 points on 9 of 14 shooting behind the arc while LeBron James recorded his second triple double in the Olympics (first player to do it in history) by scoring 16 points, grabbing 12 boards and dishing off 10 assists.Entering the fourth period, the Serbians still have a 13-point cushion but Curry and James together with Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant showed their poise in the final canto where they went on a 14-2 run which turned an 84-77 deficit to a comfortable 91-86 lead with 1:41 remaining in the game.A three-point play from Bogdan Bogdanovic and a short stab by Nikola Jokic got Serbia to within two, the last time at 93-91 with 8.2 seconds remaining but Curry iced the game with his two free throws to finally put the Serbians away.Team USA will now have a finals rematch against host country France whom they also beat in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to win their fourth straight gold in the Summer Games.The gold medal game will be scheduled at 3:30 a.m on August 11, Sunday (PH time).On the other hand, Serbia will battle Germany for the bronze medal at 5:00 p.m on August 10, Saturday (PH time).