Olympic gymnast Aleah Finnegan is turning her international experience into a mission to develop young Filipino gymnasts and help establish the Philippines as a future powerhouse in the sport.For Philippine Olympic gymnast Aleah Finnegan, building a legacy goes beyond medals, international recognition, and competing on the world's biggest sporting stage.The Filipina-American gymnast is setting her sights on something bigger: helping develop the next generation of Filipino gymnasts who could one day represent the country at the Olympics and other major international competitions.Rather than focusing solely on her own accomplishments, Finnegan continues to return to the Philippines to share her knowledge, experience, and passion for gymnastics through training clinics and grassroots development initiatives.Finnegan long-term vision is ambitious — to create a strong and sustainable pipeline of Filipino gymnasts capable of competing against the world's best."We just have to keep on doing this, and soon we're gonna expand. That's how we can build an army of gymnasts," Finnegan said.Building an Army of Future ChampionsFinnegan's statement reflects her determination to help transform Philippine gymnastics into a program capable of producing world-class athletes consistently.By working directly with young gymnasts, she hopes to provide aspiring athletes with valuable exposure to international training standards, technical knowledge, and the competitive mindset required at the highest level.Her involvement also highlights the importance of established athletes giving back to the sport that helped shape their careers.For young Filipino gymnasts, learning from an Olympian offers more than technical instruction. It provides an opportunity to understand the discipline, dedication, and preparation necessary to succeed internationally.Inspired by Carlos Yulo's Historic Olympic TriumphPhilippine gymnastics reached unprecedented heights during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Carlos Yulo made history by winning two gold medals in the men's floor exercise and vault events.His victories brought global attention to Philippine gymnastics and inspired a new generation of aspiring athletes.Finnegan, who also represented the Philippines at the Paris Olympics, is helping sustain that momentum by supporting the development of young talent.While Yulo demonstrated that Filipino gymnasts can reach the top of the Olympic podium, Finnegan's grassroots efforts highlight another essential part of sporting success: building a system that can nurture future champions.The challenge now is turning individual achievements into long-term progress.Grassroots Development Is the KeyProducing Olympic-level gymnasts requires more than natural talent.Young athletes need access to quality coaching, appropriate training facilities, competitive opportunities, financial assistance, and consistent developmental programs.This is where initiatives led by experienced athletes such as Finnegan can make a meaningful difference.By sharing lessons from her international career, Finnegan is helping bridge the gap between aspiring young gymnasts and the demands of elite competition.However, sustaining these efforts will also require continued support from sports organizations, local communities, and institutions involved in athlete development.A Legacy Bigger Than MedalsFinnegan's commitment to Philippine gymnastics sends a powerful message: an athlete's legacy can be measured not only by personal achievements but also by the opportunities created for others.Her dream of building an "army of gymnasts" represents a vision of a Philippines where world-class gymnastics talent is developed through consistent training, mentorship, and opportunity.With Yulo's historic Olympic success providing inspiration and Finnegan contributing to grassroots development, Philippine gymnastics has an opportunity to build on its growing international profile.The journey toward becoming a consistent global contender will take years of preparation, investment, and collaboration.But for Finnegan, the mission is already underway.Because the greatest legacy of a champion may not be the medals they win, but the future champions they help create.

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.

Scotty Hopson scored 46 points to lead Converge in defeating Terrafirma, 127-95 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, August 21.Hopson's 46-point explosion was highlighted by his 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc and an impressive 75-percent shooting from the field. He also added eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in his statline.Alec Stockton also added 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, while Schonny Winston scored 14 and Justin Arana put up 13 for the FiberXers who posted its largest win in team history.

JuneMar Fajardo scored another highlight for his illustrious career as he sank a buzzer-beating jumper to lead San Miguel Beermen in giving Rain or Shine Elasto Painters their first loss of the season, 113-112 on Thursday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.SMB was in trouble when Chris Ross fouled Felix Lemetti at the four-point area and the Rain or Shine rookie made all his free throws to give the Elasto Painters a one-point lead.Then, the heroics of the 8x MVP came when he sprinted down the court, received the forward pass from CJ Perez, and drained the game-winner.

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.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala advanced into the main draw of the World Tennis Association or WTA 500 in Guadalajara, Mexico after disposing Samantha Murray Sharan of Great Britain on Monday, September 8.The 19-year-old Eala will now play in the Guadalajara Open Akron as she imposed her will and trounced her 36-year-old foe at the Panamerican Tennis center.Eala flexed her might as she surged to an early 3-0 lead in the first set of the final qualifying match until Sharan leveled the score at 4-all. Despite Sharan’s best efforts, the Filipina southpaw broke her in the ninth game and served out the set in the 10th.The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate raced to a compelling 5-1 lead spiked by service breaks before concluding the match in the eighth game after three deuces. The play lasted one hour and 13 minutes.This is Eala’s second win at the qualifying rounds after outclassing Fanny Stollar of Hungary, 6-1, 6-2, last Sunday, September 7.The Filipina southpaw’s win arranged a first-round meeting with world No. 45 netter, Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic on Wednesday, September 11 (Manila time).

Rain or Shine takes Game 3 in a thrilling overtime game against Magnolia, 111-106, on Sunday night, September 29, at the Ynares Center, Antipolo City.Jhonard Clarito was named the Best Player of the Game after scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds. He was supported by Gian Mamuyac and Andrei Caracut who scored 15 apiece for the Elasto Painters.

A new playmaker is set to light up the Solar Spikers’ universe.Former De La Salle University captain and top draft pick Julia Coronel has officially found her new home in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), signing with the surging Capital1 Solar Spikers on Thursday, September 17.The blockbuster move comes right after Coronel bid a graceful farewell to the Galeries Tower Highrisers, the franchise that selected her as the third overall pick in the historic 2024 PVL Draft.A Grateful FarewellReflecting on her professional growth over the last two years, the stellar setter took to social media to express her profound gratitude for her formative time with the Highrisers."I have met so many versions of myself throughout this journey with each one teaching me something new and shaping me into the player and person that I am today," Coronel shared. "I am so grateful for all my coaches and teammates, both old and new, who have allowed me to learn, grow, and discover a little bit more of myself along the way." "Thank you, Galeries Tower Highrisers for the past two years. I am forever grateful to have been part of this family," she added.Building a Powerhouse GridCoronel’s arrival instantly morphs Capital1 into one of the most intriguing and dangerous young cores in local volleyball.By turning the page to this next chapter, Coronel links up with an explosive, star-studded roster that features fellow national team standouts Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos.More importantly, her addition creates a luxury problem for Capital1's playmaker rotation. Coronel will be sharing quarterbacking duties with seasoned veterans Jas Nabor and Jaja Maraguinot —giving esteemed Brazilian head coach Jorge de Brito an embarrassment of riches at the setter position.With a brilliant volleyball IQ, championship pedigree from Taft, and world-class guidance from Coach de Brito, Julia Coronel is locked, loaded, and ready to power up Capital1’s title ambitions.

“𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧, 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧.” For Philippine archery, that decision came when Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio backed the hiring of two South Korean coaches with Olympic pedigree—Ryu Su Jeng and Hong Sung Chil.The gamble paid off.Less than 10 months after arriving in Manila, the Korean mentors helped reshape the national team’s training approach, with an emphasis on high-volume preparation, biomechanics, equipment tuning and pressure situations.Then came Amaya Paz-Cojuangco.At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the veteran archer broke through a 12-year Philippine archery medal drought—and came agonizingly close to gold.Cojuangco dominated Iran’s Bita Asheghzadeh Oskouei, 146-135, in the quarterfinals before producing a stunning 142-141 victory over South Korea’s Park Jungyoon in the semifinals.Suddenly, the Philippines had its first-ever Asian Games archery finalist.In the gold-medal match, Cojuangco fought Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah arrow for arrow. The Indonesian eventually prevailed, 139-137, but the silver was already historic.It surpassed Paul Marton Dela Cruz’s bronze in 2014 as the Philippines’ best-ever Asian Games finish in archery.And behind the breakthrough was a philosophy Gregorio reportedly stood by: “If we want to be the best, get the best.”When questions arose about the cost of bringing in elite foreign coaches, Gregorio recalled being told, “Chairman, how can we afford?”His response: “That’s my problem. We will get corporate sponsors to share.”That is the kind of gamble that changes a program.No, the Philippines did not leave Japan with archery gold.But it left with something potentially bigger: proof that investing in world-class knowledge can change what Filipino athletes believe is possible.After 12 years without an Asian Games archery medal, Amaya Cojuangco has now put the Philippines back on the continental podium.SILVER MEDAL. HISTORIC BREAKTHROUGH. AND PERHAPS THE START OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER.

The wait is over.After two tough losses, the Alas Pilipinas Men finally broke through at the 2026 Asian Games, beating Uzbekistan in four sets in their classification match to put their first win on the board.It was a victory built on persistence — the kind of result that can change the tone of a campaign that had started with frustration.The Filipino side refused to let another opportunity slip away, fighting through four sets against Uzbekistan and finally getting the breakthrough it had been chasing.For Alas Pilipinas, the win is more than just another entry in the standings. It is a much-needed reward for staying in the fight after a difficult start to the Asian Games campaign.The men’s squad now carries that momentum into the remainder of the classification round, with another opportunity to finish the tournament on a high.Two losses. One breakthrough. And finally, a win for Alas Pilipinas Men. 🇵🇭🔥The campaign continues — and now, the Philippines has something to build on.

Some athletes spend years chasing their first major breakthrough. Others arrive on the biggest stage and announce themselves immediately.Meet Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, the Igorot taekwondo jin who turned her Asian Games debut into a silver-medal statement in women’s individual poomsae at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.Her score? 9.1300. 🥈Only South Korea’s Jung Hae-un finished ahead of her.At just 18, Candelaria stepped onto one of the biggest stages in Asian sport, faced the pressure of continental competition, and delivered a performance good enough to put her on the podium.First Asian Games. First appearance. First major statement.And the most exciting part? Her journey is only beginning.Imagine what more international experience, quality coaching, and sustained support could do for a young athlete who has already shown she can compete with Asia’s best.Her silver is more than a medal. It is a glimpse of what Philippine taekwondo could become—and a reminder that the next generation is already knocking on the door.But potential needs support. Breakthroughs need follow-through. And young champions deserve more than applause after the medals are won.SHE ARRIVED AS A ROOKIE. SHE LEFT AS AN ASIAN GAMES MEDALIST.Juliana Candelaria, keep chasing that next level. The future is yours to fight for. 🇵🇭🔥Athletes are people first. Celebrate the breakthrough. Support the journey.OFF COURT ONLY. COOL THINGS ONLY.

The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) has announced that all games scheduled for Thursday, July 25, have been canceled due to the inclement weather brought by Typhoon Carina.The league made the announcement on Wednesday, prioritizing the safety and well-being of players, staff, and fans.In a statement, the league said, “Due to the inclement weather brought by Typhoon Carina, all Premier Volleyball League games scheduled for Thursday, July 25, have been postponed and will be moved to a later date. Stay safe and dry.”PLDT was supposed to face Farm Fresh at 1:00 pm at the PhilSports Arena with the High Speed Hitters looking to continue their unbeaten start that saw them clinch two wins. Meanwhile, the Foxies would have been looking to get their breakthrough after falling 0-2 in Pool A.Creamline and Nxled were also scheduled for their 3:00 pm encounter with Cool Smashers eyeing for back-to-back wins while the Chameleons were vying for their second win in three games.Chery Tiggo, who are also undefeated in Pool A with a 2-0 slate, were originally set to slug it out against Galeries Tower at 5:00 pm.The league will announce the rescheduled dates for these matches at a later time.

Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala demonstrated resilience as she scored a comeback win following her failed US Open qualifying bid.The unfazed 19-year-old Eala continued her quest for international glory after drubbing Victoria Hu of United States, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, in the opening round of the Women’s Tennis Professionals or WTA 2024 Guadalajara 125 Open on Tuesday, September 3 (Philippine time).The young Filipina sustained Hu’s hard serves and blew past the second-set tiebreaker before finding her rhythm in the third frame. She then held serve in the sixth to open her biggest lead of the match which she made sure not to relinquish. Eala closed out in the 10th to secure the two-hour, 40 minute win to move into the Round of 16 of the tournament. The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate will need to brace herself for a tougher challenge as her win against Hu arranged her a meet with fourth seed and world No. 99 Tatjana Maria of Germany.Eala and Maria encountered each other three times in WTA tournaments in 2023, with the German beating her in all of their previous matchups. 

Calvin Oftana scored a team-high 25 points, while Kelly Williams and Jayson Castro provided veteran-smarts in TNT Tropang Giga’s 108-99 win over Meralco on Thursday night in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.The trio powered the Tropang Giga from a mere 100-97 lead into a more comfortable 106-97 cushion with 50 seconds of play remaining.Oftana’s 25 points (eight in the fourth quarter) included sinking six three-pointers, grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing off three assists.TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also helped out by producing 22 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.Jayson Castro contributed 12 markers, four boards and four dimes, while Kelly Williams scored nine points in his 15:45 playing time, and did his usual job in the defensive end.

𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗔 𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗦!  Manila is set to host two WTA tournaments in 2027, giving Filipino fans even more chances to watch elite women’s tennis on home soil.The WTA has approved Manila’s hosting application for a WTA 125, targeted for January and scheduled around the second week of the Australian Open.Then comes the bigger stage.Manila is also slated to host a WTA 250 in late October or early November 2027, according to Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) secretary general John Rey Tiangco.The double-header builds on the momentum of the successful WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open staged in Manila earlier this year, further putting Philippine tennis on the international calendar.PHILTA  has also invited international players to include Manila in their 2027 schedules, adding more star power to what could be a landmark year for local tennis.And with Alex Eala continuing to make her mark on the global circuit, the prospect of seeing top-level WTA action — and potentially more international stars — on Philippine courts makes 2027 one to watch.TWO TOURNAMENTS. TWO WTA LEVELS. ONE TENNIS-HUNGRY NATION.MANILA IS READY TO SERVE.

𝗕𝗟𝗨 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗥!  The Philippine Blu Girls continued their impressive turnaround in the 2026 Asian Games women’s softball tournament, shutting out Singapore, 10-0, in just four innings Wednesday at Anjo Softball Ground.The victory kept the Philippines firmly in fourth place and improved the Blu Girls to a 3-2 record, keeping their hopes alive of reaching at least the bronze-medal match on Saturday.Powering the rout were Mylia Isabel Perez and Nicole Hammoude, who each launched a two-run homer as the Philippines erupted for six runs in the opening inning before finishing the job under the tournament’s 10-run mercy rule.In the circle, Glory Alonzo and Mary Joy Alpitche split pitching duties, with Alpitche striking out three as the Blu Girls completely shut down Singapore.But the celebration will be short.Waiting next is unbeaten China, which enters Thursday’s showdown with a perfect 5-0 record. The game is scheduled for 10 a.m. Manila time.It is the kind of matchup that can define a tournament run.The Blu Girls have found their rhythm.Now they face the team that hasn’t lost.CHINA VS. THE BLU GIRLS. LET THE ROAR BEGIN. 

18 YEARS OLD. ASIAN GAMES SILVER. THE FUTURE IS HERE! 🇵🇭🥈🔥REMEMBER THE NAME: TACHIANA MANGIN.At just 18 years old, the Filipina taekwondo standout has already made her mark on the Asian stage.Mangin captured silver in the women’s -49kg division at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, battling China’s Ma Jingyue in the gold-medal match.The gold may have slipped away—but make no mistake:Tachiana Mangin just announced herself. 🇵🇭💪Her silver is the Philippines’ seventh silver medal of the Games, adding another piece to Team Pilipinas’ growing medal haul.And Philippine taekwondo is making noise.Mangin joins Juliana Candelaria and Jeus Gabriel Yape on the podium, with Yape also delivering a gold medal earlier in the day. 🥇🔥But perhaps the biggest takeaway is this:She’s only 18.An Asian Games podium at this age is not the end of the story. It could be the beginning of something much bigger.Today, it’s silver.Tomorrow, who knows how high she can climb?18 YEARS OLD. ONE ASIAN GAMES SILVER. A WHOLE FUTURE AHEAD. 🌟🇵🇭Remember the name.TACHIANA MANGIN.

The flag belongs to the nation. The athletes carry it. Their future must never become collateral damage in sports politics.“Hindi dapat maapektuhan ang ating mga atleta ng sports politics.”Sen. Bong Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, stressed a clear message during the post-evaluation of the Philippine delegation’s participation in the 20th Asian Games.Disagreements, governance issues, financial difficulties, and conflicts among sports organizations should never come at the expense of Filipino athletes.Our athletes train to win medals—not to get caught in boardroom battles and leadership disputes.They sacrifice years of their lives to represent the country. They deserve proper funding, quality preparation, stable leadership, and an environment where they can focus on competing—not worry about the politics surrounding their sport.Accountability matters. Good governance matters. But through it all, the welfare of athletes must remain the priority.Because when sports leaders clash, the consequences can reach far beyond the boardroom—and the athletes may be the ones left paying the price. 

50 STATES. ONE FLAME. ONE OLYMPIC DREAM Atlanta will make history as the first U.S. stop for the Olympic flame after it arrives from Greece, officially kicking off a torch relay unlike any the country has seen before. 🇬🇷➡️🇺🇸And here's what makes it massive: the Olympic flame is set to travel through all 50 states.From America's biggest cities to its smallest communities, the torch will bring the Olympic spirit directly to the people—turning the countdown to Los Angeles into a celebration far beyond the host city.This isn't just about carrying a flame.It's about carrying a symbol of sport, dreams, perseverance and unity across an entire nation.  Atlanta gets the first chapter.Los Angeles gets the grand finale.But all 50 states get to be part of the story.LA 2028 IS COMING—AND AMERICA IS GETTING READY TO CARRY THE FLAME.   

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗗 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘’𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠? 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗔! Alas Pilipinas Men return to action in the 2026 Asian Games classification round, facing familiar Southeast Asian rival Indonesia as they look to finally break through against a team that has already beaten them twice this year.The Nationals finished at the bottom of Pool D after falling to Korea, China, and Chinese Taipei. After being swept in their first two matches, Alas managed to take a set from Chinese Taipei in their final preliminary-round assignment.Indonesia also had a difficult group stage, finishing with a 1-2 record. The Indonesians pushed both Thailand and Iran to five sets before falling short, while their lone win came against Kyrgyzstan in straight sets.Now, the rivalry gets another chapter.Thursday’s clash marks the third meeting between the Philippines and Indonesia this year. Indonesia swept Alas in the opening leg of the SEA V.Cup in July before taking a four-set victory in the second leg.For Alas Men, there is no need for extra motivation.Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Joshua Magalaman, and Owa Retamar will be among those expected to lead the charge as the Nationals hunt for a much-needed breakthrough in Aichi-Nagoya.They’ve seen Indonesia before.They know what went wrong.NOW, ALAS MEN GET ONE MORE SHOT TO CHANGE THE STORY.