Gilas Pilipinas announces lineup for 5th window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers; Boatwright, Kai, QMB in

GMA Network - Nov 11, 2026

Gilas Pilipinas announced its lineup for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Wednesday with recently naturalized Bennie Boatwright set to make his national team debut for the Philippines.

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Pi Durden Wangkay claims bronze at Youth Olympic Games
Nov 10, 2026

Pi Durden Wangkay claims bronze at Youth Olympic Games

MANILA, Philippines — Pi Durden Forward Wangkay of the Philippines claimed a bronze medal in the men's 200m final at the Dakar 4th Youth Olympic Games Tuesday afternoon in Senegal, early Wednesday in Manila. Unleashing a personal best time of 21.36 (.355) seconds, Wangkay crossed the finish line in third place but was just 0.32 seconds off the gold medalist Ropafadzo Mizondo of Zimbabwe who clocked 21.04. Wangkay nearly seized the silver medal as he raced Deuquan Farrell of Guyana to a photo finish with only 0.004 seconds separating them. Farrell timed 21.36 (.359) to claim the silver, instead.

PBA admits wrong call in Ginebra-San Miguel Game 4, suspends ref
Nov 10, 2026

PBA admits wrong call in Ginebra-San Miguel Game 4, suspends ref

ANTIPOLO—The PBA acknowledged it made an erroneous call in Game 4 of the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, and said it has suspended one of its referees for the remainder of the playoffs. Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the official, whom he did not name, should have called

NCAA: San Beda claims Group A top seed with Benilde rout
Nov 10, 2026

NCAA: San Beda claims Group A top seed with Benilde rout

MANILA, Philippines—Defending champion San Beda clinched the top seed in Group A after defeating College of St. Benilde, 82-69, to end the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball elimination round on Tuesday at San Juan Arena. Rookie Andrei Ugaddan led San Beda’s domination of the Blazers with 18 points, five rebounds, a steal and a block.

PBA: Calvin Abueva summoned after ejection, outburst at fans
Nov 10, 2026

PBA: Calvin Abueva summoned after ejection, outburst at fans

MANILA, Philippines–Calvin Abueva has been summoned by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial after being ejected in Converge’s 2026 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals clincher against Rain or Shine. Abueva is scheduled to appear before Marcial on Wednesday to explain not only his two technical fouls in the 120-109 win on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, but also his

Spikers’ Turf: Savouge overcomes eight-man AFP for 4th straight win
Nov 10, 2026

Spikers’ Turf: Savouge overcomes eight-man AFP for 4th straight win

MANILA, Philippines — Savouge booked its fourth straight win, but not after surviving a scare from the depleted Armed Forces of the Philippines, 25-22, 25-17, 32-34, 25-23, in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AFP only played with eight players, missing key members Ranran Abdilla, James Buytrago, Nico Ramirez, Joshua

NCAA: Jimboy Estrada saves the day anew for Letran in wild finish
Nov 10, 2026

NCAA: Jimboy Estrada saves the day anew for Letran in wild finish

MANILA, Philippines—Letran turned to Jimboy Estrada in the clutch anew to squeak past Perpetual Help, 85-83, in a thriller in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at San Juan Arena. With the Knights trailing by one, Estrada banked in a contested step back triple to win it with 2.2 ticks to go,

UAAP: Louie Alas laments ‘inappropriate’ actions in Ateneo loss to UP
Nov 10, 2026

UAAP: Louie Alas laments ‘inappropriate’ actions in Ateneo loss to UP

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo coach Louie Alas apologized on Tuesday after an on-court confrontation with University of the Philippines player Jacob Bayla on Saturday. With less than a second left in the Blue Eagles’ 82-74 loss to the Fighting Maroons, Alas entered the court, pointed at Bayla and cursed at him following the forward’s dunk with the

PVL: Trisha Tubu, Farm Fresh post another comeback win, stop PLDT
Nov 10, 2026

PVL: Trisha Tubu, Farm Fresh post another comeback win, stop PLDT

MANILA, Philippines — Trisha Tubu lifted Farm Fresh to another comeback win, escaping PLDT, 20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15, for solo third place in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tubu scored eight of her 30 points in the fifth set to deliver their first back-to-back wins of the

Cesar bags PH’s first medal at Dakar Youth Olympics
Nov 10, 2026

Cesar bags PH’s first medal at Dakar Youth Olympics

NAOMI Marjorie Cesar zoomed to a women’s 800-meter silver medal finish at the Dakar 4th Youth Olympic Games Monday afternoon in Senegal, early Tuesday in Manila. The 17-year-old Cesar clocked 2:09.34 to give the Philippines its first medal in a two-week sports spectacle, which will end on Friday. Cesar finished behind gold medalist Netsanet Selemon of Ethiopia, who topped the competition with a personal best of 2:04.43. Khadija Elmostaqim of Morocco settled for the bronze medal with 2:10.05. Running fourth in lane 5, Cesar said she turned it on in the final 100 m, where she went from fourth to second. “I was kind of waiting to turn it on in the end and go, and just tell myself that when I started, no one can catch me and I can catch whatever I set my sights on, so I trusted in myself,” she said. “I told myself that I worked so hard for this, so I’m not gonna go home in fourth,” added Cesar, younger sister of Filipinas national women’s football team member Malea. Naomi, who won a gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games like her sister Malea with the Filipinas, said winning a medal at the Youth Olympics felt surreal. “It still doesn’t feel real. When I crossed the line, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I just medaled at the Youth Olympics.’ It’s just so unreal, and I’m so happy and I’m so proud of myself.” Naomi said her Youth Olympics silver medal is just the beginning of something big like potentially making it to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “Hopefully [I could qualify], but I haven’t really looked that far ahead but it’s on the table. My goal is to keep representing the Philippines and make everyone proud,” she said. As she chases her Olympic dream, Naomi encouraged her fellow dreamers to believe in themselves. “Just keep believing in yourself and chase your dreams, and don’t listen to anyone who said you can’t because you’re the only one who can tell yourself that so don’t tell yourself that.”

Alas apologizes for behavior in UAAP game
Nov 10, 2026

Alas apologizes for behavior in UAAP game

ATENEO de Manila University Blue Eagles head coach Louie Alas on Tuesday apologized for his behavior at the conclusion of last Saturday’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) game against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Alas was involved in a heated confrontation at the end of Saturday’s Blue Eagles 82-74 loss against the Maroons. He was suspended for two UAAP games as a result. “Regardless of the circumstances, my actions were inappropriate. I should have exercised greater restraint and better judgment. I take full responsibility for my conduct and accept the consequences,” Alas said in a statement posted on the Ateneo website. “I understand the disappointment my actions have caused, particularly among those who expect everyone representing Ateneo to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship, respect and self-discipline. These are expectations I share and deeply respect,” he added. Ateneo will next play the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Wednesday. ARIC JOHN SY CUA

Gilas sets formidable frontcourt for FIBA tilt
Nov 10, 2026

Gilas sets formidable frontcourt for FIBA tilt

IF plans don’t miscarry, Gilas Pilipinas expects a loaded front court for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. Coach Tim Cone is keeping his fingers crossed that no injury bug will hit big men led by Kai Sotto, Quentin Millora-Brown, AJ Edu and Mike Phillips, as all four players are expected to be available for the November window. “Yes, barring any injury between now and then,” Cone said, when asked by The Manila Times about the availability of the four big men. The 7-3 Sotto has returned to action for his Japan B.League team Altira Chiba after missing seven games due to a knee issue. He played the first four games for the season, before being held back due to the injury. The Filipino big man has played in the team’s last two games, averaging six points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of play. Sotto’s size, coupled by the presence of QMB, who currently plays for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, along with Phillips (Kyoto Hannaryz) and Edu (Gunma Crane Thunders), will give Cone the luxury of a stratospheric frontline heading to the penultimate window of the FIBA Asian Qualifiers. Cone recently said Gilas will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Nov. 21, with the team, while Bennie Boatwright, the team’s new naturalized player, will follow on Nov. 23. The PBA is scheduled to halt the playoffs for the Season 50 Governors’ Cup after Tuesday’s sudden death Game 5 of the quarterfinal series between San Miguel Beer and Ginebra to give way to Gilas’ FIBA tournament. Gilas has less than a week to prepare before plunging to action on Nov. 27 against Syria, followed by Iran on Nov. 30 in Seremban, an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur.

Tigers growl for Final Four push
Nov 10, 2026

Tigers growl for Final Four push

LOOKING to stay in the thick of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball Final Four spot hunt, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) faces University of the East (UE) at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. The fifth-running Growling Tigers take on the already-eliminated yet dangerous Red Warriors at 2:30 p.m. While the 5-6 UST snapped its three-game skid to boost its Final Four bid with an 86-85 win over Far Eastern University (FEU) last Sunday, repeating against the cellar-dwelling 1-10, UE doesn’t look easy to pull off. The Red Warriors finally took their first win of the season last Saturday, ending a 30-game skid dating back to Season 87 with a 53-47 win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons. Facing a loose UE side that just came off its first win in two years to begin its three-game semis push, the Pido Jarencio-mentored UST knows it will face a tough challenge. “If you look at our practices, they became harder. They became more intense. They became more focused more than anything, and that’s the spirit that we want to continue,” said Growling Tigers assistant coach Peter Martin. “Even if we win the last three games, we’re not assured of a Final Four spot yet. We just want to finish well, one game at a time. We know that UE already has won, so that’s actually terrifying.” Firing 23 points last timeout, Amiel Acido looks to lead the charge anew for the Growling Tigers and sweep their elimination round series against the Paolo Hubalde-coached Red Warriors. Opposite Acido as well as Landyn Jumawan and Mark Llemit is Toper Lagat, whose offensive exploits finally translated to a UE victory last Saturday. Lagat punched 14 points, four rebounds and two steals against Adamson, while also drawing help from Mo Tañedo and JM Edoukou, who added 14 and 13 points, respectively. “I think they started to believe in what they can do,” said Hubalde. “On top of that, they’re starting to believe in the system. I told them that as long as you give everything on the court, basketball will love us back.” Tied with the Growling Tigers in fifth place with a 5-6 slate, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles are likewise making their final push for a Final Four spot. Ateneo takes on the seventh-running, 4-7, and desperate Adamson side, which is essentially on the brink of elimination at 5 p.m. The Blue Eagles are coming off a 74-82 loss to the top seed and 9-2 UP Fighting Maroons last Saturday, while the Soaring Falcons fell victim to the Red Warriors to suffer their fourth straight defeat. NIEL VICTOR MASOY

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