Justin Brownlee secured another championship to his accolades after Pelita Jaya reigned the 2024 Indonesia Basketball League (IBL) after subduing Satria Muda Pertamina Jakarta, 73-65, on Sunday, August 4, at the Indomilk Arena. The well-loved Gilas Pilas naturalized player and Barangay Ginebra import did not have a huge offensive night but he made his presence felt by producing 14 points, including eight in the third quarter alone, together with five rebounds. Indonesian team naturalized player Anthony Beane paced the squad with 23 markers, spiked by six triples, while former PBA import KJ McDaniels contributed 14 and seven boards.Forward Muhamad Arighi had 13 points as well, spiked by three triples, off the bench as Pelita Jaya won its second IBL title after seven years.With the crown tucked under his belt, Brownlee is expected to fly back to Manila soon to rejoin Barangay Ginebra as he looks to lead his team in the upcoming PBA Season 49, which kicks off with the Governor’s Cup. 

Filipina golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina exhibited their fighting spirit, displaying their clutch performances to end their respective campaigns in the Paris Olympics women’s individual stroke play at the Le Golf National on Saturday, August 10.Pagdanganan narrowly missed out on a historic medal for the Philippines as she finished at joint fourth with an impressive 4-under 68 in the fourth and final round. She was one stroke away from a bronze medal until China’s Janet Lin birdied in the 18th hole to seize the solo third and dash the Filipina’s medal hopes.

Magnolia Hotshots new import Shabazz Muhammad sank a running shot with 8.1 seconds remaining in the game to overcome the gritty Terrafirma Dyip, 99-98, and kept them in the solo third place of Group in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.The two teams traded clutch baskets in the final seconds of the game.Paul Lee drained a four-pointer to give the Hotshots a two-point lead, 97-95. In the next play, Dyip’s rookie Paolo Hernandez sank a step-back triple that brought his team back with the lead, 98-97. But the last laugh belonged to Muhammad when he delivered the winning basket with 7.8 seconds left in the game.Kevin Ferrer has one last say but his desperation three was way off the mark as Terrafirma stayed winless in the conference.It was also the 19th straight win of the Magnolia against Terrafirma since July 15, 2016. The Dyip was still called Mahindra Enforcer by then while the Hotshots were named Star.

The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters finally clinched a victory in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup when they defeated Blackwater Bossing, 119-114 on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.Import Brandone Francis and veteran RR Garcia gave the lift for the Fuel masters in the end game to get their first ever victory of the season.Francis scored a team-high 23 points, including seven in the last 49 seconds of play to put an end to the run of Bossing, which had a 20-point third quarter deficit.Garcia played a vital role too by contributing 16 of his 20 total points in the final canto when Blackwater came within 98-102 with 6:42 remaining in the game.Three more Fuel Masters scored in double figures to get their important win. Jason Perkins tallied 19 markers while Ricci Rivero added 14 and rookie Kai Ballungay had 12.

The National University Lady Bulldogs powered its way to a 76-44 victory after clamping the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball tournament on Wednesday, September 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.The Lady Bulldogs unleashed a strong third quarter after settling for a tied 41 points at the half-time break, tallying 16 unanswered points for a 62-43 cushion heading into the final frame. The Lady Maroons endured the scoring drought and just managed to basket two points from the free-throw line courtesy of Alex Mendoza and Achrissa Maw.  

The 2026 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals is set to take on an international flavor as four foreign teams will compete in the tournament on July 10 to 11, boosting the level of competition for Filipino volleyball teams.In the collegiate division, Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club of Vietnam and Southern Storm Melbourne of Australia will challenge the Philippines' top collegiate squads.The juniors division will feature Perfect Set Dream Makers from the United States and Pacific Volleyball Academy, providing local young athletes an opportunity to compete against international opposition.“This year is very different. It's very special,” said Ian Laurel, noting that the tournament supports Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio's initiative to promote sports tourism.Organizers expect the participation of the overseas teams to provide valuable international exposure for Filipino players while elevating the overall quality of the competition.

The international volleyball community is mourning the tragic loss of Venezuela men's national team captain Willner Rivas, his wife Mariángel Pérez, and their young son, Theo, following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) confirmed that the family's deaths were verified on July 5, after an 11-day search that drew support and prayers from the global volleyball community.In a statement, the FIVB extended its deepest condolences to the family's loved ones, teammates, and the entire Venezuelan volleyball community, honoring the legacy of Rivas both as a national team leader and a respected figure in the sport."Rest in peace, Willner, Mariángel, and Theo. Your legacy will never be forgotten."

ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles made an early statement in the 2026 PVL On Tour, defeating the Akari Chargers, 25-11, 25-23, 26-28, 25-17, on Wednesday at the Capital Arena.The victory not only marked ZUS Coffee's first win of the preseason tournament but also earned the Thunderbelles the competition's first ₱100,000 performance incentive.Fans were also treated to the debut of the team's revamped roster, with former Farm Fresh Foxies standout Jolina dela Cruz and reigning NCAA Season 101 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Zam Nolasco earning spots in the starting lineup.The match likewise featured the PVL's experimental preseason rules, including the two-point Premier Ball and the mandatory 14-player rotation, giving teams an opportunity to test new strategies while providing more playing time for the entire roster.With an impressive opening victory and fresh faces making an immediate impact, ZUS Coffee sent a strong message that it is ready to contend in the 2026 PVL On Tour.

PBA rookie Geo Chiu and the Terrafirma Dyip are off to a good start in the PBA Governor's Cup after defeating the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 113-100, on July 10 at the Ynares Center.Chiu finished with 19 points and a career-high 23 rebounds, showcasing his dominance on the offensive end while controlling the boards early in his professional basketball career.With that performance, he earned the Best Player and Rebounder of the Game awards.Terrafirma also outclassed Titan on the boards, recording 94 rebounds compared to Ultra's 52, setting a new PBA record for most rebounds in a game.The previous record holder was Gibby's Gin (now Barangay Ginebra), which grabbed 87 rebounds against Toyota in 1983.Import Justin Strings also contributed 25 points, while JM Bravo, Didat Hanapi, Juami Tiongson, and Maverick Ahanmisi added 15, 14, 13, and 11 points, respectively.The Dyip are scheduled to face the NLEX Road Warriors on July 12. NLEX also opened their campaign with a dominant 114-75 victory over the Macau Giant Pandas, with new head coach Jimmy Alapag looking to keep the team's momentum going.

Alex Eala will return in the Philippines for a brief visit and hold a meet-and-greet for her fans following her latest achievements in tennis, and in Philippine sports history.The event will take place at the Glorietta Activity Center on July 15, and will be open to the public. Eala will share her experience from her Wimbledon campaign, and deliberate her preparations for the next Grand Slam Tournament, the US Open, which will be held from August 30 to September 13 in NY.This will be her second visit to the country this year, with her first being during the WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open this previous January, where she reached the quarterfinals, before falling short to Camila Osorio, 4-6, 4-6. Osorio eventually won the singles champion of that tournament. The Filipina tennis ace made history by becoming the first Filipina player to advance to the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam Tournament as a seeded player. 

In an unstoppable performance, the UST Junior Golden Tigresses claimed the top spot in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League Junior National Invitationals after sweeping fellow unbeaten St. John’s Institute in straight sets, 25-17, 25-23, to complete the elimination round with a perfect record.The Golden Tigresses advanced to the semifinals as the tournament's No.1 seed following their latest triumph.Anneli Manzanillo was named the MVP of the Match award after playing a key role in their victory. She finished with 8 points, highlighted by 4 attacks and 4 blocks in a dominant performance at the net. The unbeaten campaign marked UST's first-ever perfect elimination round since 2023, when the Junior Golden Tigresses went on to capture the bronze medal in the tournament.Meanwhile, Angeline Poyos was named Best Outside Hitter, while Bernadett Pepito earned the Best Libero award.UST will await its semifinal opponent, while St. John’s dropped to a 4-1 record. The squad is scheduled to face Pacific Volleyball Academy (PVA) in its final preliminary-round match.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has granted Ateneo de Manila University an extension to submit the findings of its internal investigation into the tragic drowning deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8.Originally due on July 15, the report will now be submitted on July 24 after Ateneo requested additional time before the initial deadline.Despite the extension, the UAAP said the preventive sanctions it previously imposed will remain in effect while the investigation is ongoing. These include the suspension of Ateneo's coaching staff from participating in all UAAP-related activities.During the ongoing probe, Louie Alas will continue to serve as the Blue Eagles' interim head coach, while former Ateneo standout Nico Salva remains the team's manager until the investigation is completed and the UAAP acts on its findings.

Rubilen Amit concluded her campaign after finishing third in the 2024 World Pool Association (WPA) 9-Ball China Open in Shanghai over the weekend.Amit, who recently reigned supreme in the WPA World Women’s 9-Ball Championship, managed to reach the semifinals, seeking to add another crown in her collection, but eventually bowed out to China’s Han Yu, 9-3.The hometown bet was just too tough as the Chinese went on to win their bout and eventually claimed the win against compatriot Wang Xiaotong for a $36,000 win.Prior to her semifinals defeat, Amit prevailed over Bojana Sarac of Serbia (7-5), Silviana Lu of Indonesia (72), veteran Jasmin Ouschan of Austria (9-3), and Chihiro Kawahara of Japan (9-5) in the earlier rounds. Chezka Centeno, on the other hand, absorbed a 9-8 loss against Chieh-Yu Chou in the Round of 16. Carlos Biado and Jeffrey de Luna also withdrew from the men’s competition. 

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 Creamline Cool Smashers showcased the depth of their roster and the promise of their young core after opening their 2026 PVL On Tour campaign with a 25-18, 25-23, 16-25, 25-19 victory over the Nxled Chameleons at the Capital Arena.Leading the charge for the defending powerhouse were rookie Barbie Jamili, former Cignal HD Spikers standouts Ishie Lalongisip and Erin Pangilinan, as well as former Petro Gazz Angels setter Donnalyn Paralejas, who impressed in their Creamline debut.The Cool Smashers displayed the same championship culture despite fielding several new faces, with the team's young players stepping up to deliver a convincing opening-day win.With its emerging talents blending seamlessly into the system, Creamline signaled that its future remains bright as it continues its pursuit of success in the 2026 PVL On Tour.