MANILA, Philippines–Kai Sotto is expected to be among those who will report early for Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers in Seremban, Malaysia. Coach Tim Cone said Sotto will join the contingent flying to Malaysia on November 21, where Gilas will hold its buildup before the

MANILA, Philippines–The PBA has fined Calvin Abueva a total of P24,000 for his actions during Converge’s  2026 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series-clincher against Rain or Shine. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial revealed the sanction on Wednesday, hours after Abueva was summoned to the PBA Office in Libis. Abueva was handed a P20,000 fine for his dirty

MANILA, Philippines–Jordan Murphy sent high school teammate George King home. The hard part is just about to begin as he faces a tougher import matchup in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals. Barangay Ginebra survived San Miguel Beer, 110-94, in Game 5 of their race-to-three affair in the quarterfinals to arrange a showdown against TNT,

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 89  basketball tournament – second round MANILA, Philippines- Peter Osang made an impressive debut as University of Santo Tomas routed University of the East, 97-70, to strengthen its Final Four bid in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. UST fielded the 6-foot-7 Nigerian in place

MANILA, Philippines–Pi Durden Wangkay won bronze in the athletics men’s 200 meters on Tuesday, giving the Philippines its second medal at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and securing its best-ever finish in four editions of the competition. Wangkay clocked a personal-best 21.36 seconds, narrowly missing silver to Guyana’s Deuquan’ Farrell by four-thousandths of a second

MANILA, Philippines — Leo Ordiales erupted for 28 points to lead National University-Archipelago Builders past AEP-Cabstars, 25-18, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20, and solidify its hold of the solo second seed in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Wednesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Facing their former teammate Leo Aringo, Ordiales powered the

LA Salle Green Hills (LSGH) standout Behrouz Mohammad “Madi” Mojdeh served immediate notice of his might, capturing a gold and a silver medal as the NCAA Season 102 swimming competitions kicked off at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Mojdeh joined forces with Rodevic Gonzalvo, Gerald Esquivel and Ram Ubiadas to seize the gold medal in the 4x50-meter (m) medley relay. The LSGH quartet clocked a blistering one minute and 51.82 seconds to secure top honors, outclassing Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which settled for second place at 1:55.25. “I felt really good during the preliminaries, especially since it was my first time competing in the NCAA finals. But during warm-up, I started feeling a little heavy,” Mojdeh shared. Mojdeh added a silver medal in the 200-m backstroke with a time of 2:17.83, finishing behind teammate Titus Rafael Sia, who clocked an impressive 2:14.96. Aishel Cid Evangelista of Emilio Aguinaldo College placed third with 2:18.79. “I had to quickly reset for my 200-m backstroke finals because we had very little recovery time. I felt strong at the start, although I rushed some of my turns. I’m glad I still managed another personal best, a podium finish and a relay gold with my teammates,” Mojdeh said. Mojdeh aims to add more hardware on Day 2 of the tournament, where he is set to compete in the 400-m freestyle and 200-m breaststroke. “I have the 400-m freestyle and 200-m breaststroke next. Hopefully, I can carry today’s lessons into those races and perform even better,” he added. LSGH teammate Kristian Yugo Cabana also bagged a silver medal in the 200-m individual medley (IM) after submitting a time of 2:11.73. “I’m really happy with my performance in the 200-m IM because I improved my time a lot. I tried pushing on the breaststroke leg, and it gave me good momentum going into the freestyle and finishing strong,” Cabana said. This marked Cabana’s debut appearance in the NCAA. “It was also my first event in the NCAA, so the excitement and adrenaline were definitely there. However, I was disappointed with my 100-m freestyle. My two events were scheduled back-to-back, and I felt that I didn’t have enough time to fully recover,” Cabana admitted. Like Mojdeh, Cabana faces another pair of events on the second day of competition. “I have another set of back-to-back events, so I’m hoping we’ll have a little more recovery time to properly swim down and prepare for the next race. I’m determined to bounce back and give everything I have.”

FILIPINO high-leaping guard Rhenz Abando is set to return to Gilas Pilipinas three years after he last played for the national team in the FIBA 2023 World Cup in Manila. The former NCAA Most Valuable Player was named to the final 12 for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifers on Wednesday as announced by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in its official social media accounts. Abando, who currently plays for the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in the Korean Basketball League, will be joined by naturalized player Bennie Boatwright. Boatwright will be making his Gilas debut on Nov. 27 when the Philippines faces Syria, followed by Iran on Nov. 29 at the Karisma Arena in Seremban, Malaysia. Returning also for the national squad include big men Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips, who both missed action in the fourth window in Manila, where Gilas beat Jordan and Iran. Kai Sotto will be leading the local squad, along with Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, AJ Edu, Chris Newsome, along with Juan Gomez de Liano.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and outplayed former Boston teammate Jaylen Brown, and Paul George hit six three-pointers and scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, leading the Celtics past the 76ers, 123-101, on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). Brown ran into early foul trouble and scored only 13 points in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player was traded over the summer to the Sixers. His head-to-head showdown with Tatum was one of the more anticipated early season matchups with both players refusing to say much about their frosty relationship. Tatum tried to dap up Brown before the opening tip with a tap on the shoulder and thump on the chest that his former teammate ignored. Tatum shook hands and exchanged a big hug with LeBron James. Brown picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and was whistled for his fourth early in the second half. George, traded for Brown after two seasons with the 76ers, enjoyed the homecoming. He appeared to give the finger in a bowling motion near the visitor’s bench after he sank his fourth three of the game for a 100-82 lead that pushed the Celtics to their ninth win in 10 games. The Sixers survived a scare late in the second half when Joel Embiid landed awkwardly and hit the court on a missed layup attempt. The oft-injured big man curled up on the court while VJ Edgecombe dunked over him. Embiid gingerly ran down the court and hunched over as the halftime horn sounded with the Celtics up, 62-51. Embiid’s health has been a career-long issue for him, and the Sixers have declined to play him in back-to-back games. A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid has slumped with his shot this season, with no game worse than last Friday in Cleveland when he missed all nine shots from the floor and scored only two points. He had missed 27 of 30 (and 20 consecutive) three-pointers entering the game. Embiid missed two three-point attempts in the first half but opened the second with his first three since the second game of the season. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 24 points.

MANILA, Philippines — Trisha Tubu didn’t want to think about Farm Fresh’s past heartbreaking loss to PLDT. She stayed in the moment and took it one point at a time. In the deciding set, Tubu took charge and scored eight of her 30 points to complete a come-from-behind 20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15 win for

LOS ANGELES, California — Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova upset Coco Gauff to storm into the last four of the WTA Finals at Indian Wells on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) as Jessica Pegula reignited her challenge with victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. Czech eighth seed Noskova took advantage of a shaky serving performance by Gauff to complete a 6-3, 6-3 victory in group one to book her place in the semifinals. Noskova broke Gauff’s serve four times on her way to claiming the first set, and then grabbed the decisive break early in the second before sealing victory with her ninth ace of the match. “I’m very happy, obviously every win counts in this competition,” Noskova said afterward. “Coco is a big competitor so I had to be ready for everything that would come my way today. “You have to play to the very last point with Coco because she can always help herself out with her serve and fighting spirit. I felt like I played great to put some pressure on her,” added Noskova, who defeated Ukraine’s Kostyuk in her opening group match on Sunday. The defeat leaves Gauff and Pegula vying for the last remaining semifinal berth from group one. Pegula, beaten by Gauff in her opener on Sunday, overcame a topsy-turvy second set to defeat Kostyuk, 6-2, 7-5. Kostyuk is eliminated following Tuesday’s defeat. “I feel like I’m playing well,” Pegula said. “I felt my match against Coco was a super high-level match, and that was a great match today. “It’s so tricky with her because you just don’t know what’s gonna come — she will just step in and inject pace, she’ll come and kamikaze the net, she goes for returns or her serve can get hot. That’s what makes it difficult to play her.”

WHAT came across as criticism in July sounded a lot more like a compliment on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) when Rory McIlroy contemplated the nebulous future of Bryson DeChambeau. DeChambeau was theatrical as ever when he protested a two-shot penalty for improving the path of his swing while stomping around in waist-high grass at the British Open. There were questions whether he would withdraw and rumors he was planning to call President Donald Trump. It led to players having to wait until nearly midnight to get Saturday tee times. “I think a lot of it is performative,” McIlroy said at Royal Birkdale, making clear he was not a big fan of DeChambeau. And now? DeChambeau is searching for a new home after the demise of LIV Golf, which on Tuesday in New Jersey filed a joint Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. The PGA Tour typically has a one-year ban of players dating to their most recent LIV Golf appearance, which could be longer if there are other disciplinary considerations (such as DeChambeau being part of the antitrust lawsuit against the tour). He has the option of joining the European tour from winning a major in the last five years. That was the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 when he got up-and-down with a 55-yard bunker shot to win by one over McIlroy, who peeled out of the parking lot without a word. DeChambeau already was planning to play the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, which the European tour co-sanctions, on Dec. 4–7. He has until Sunday to inform the European tour whether he wants to take up membership. It’s that “performative” nature that makes McIlroy believe DeChambeau would be a positive addition to the European tour. “I think a name like Bryson DeChambeau and everything he brings with him, good and bad, he brings eyeballs, which is a good thing for tournaments,” said McIlroy at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. “And honestly — look, I’m certainly not in his shoes, and nor would I ever want to be — but it doesn’t seem like he’s got many options,” McIlroy said. “If he wants to play competitive golf, it doesn’t seem like he’s got many options.” There’s always YouTube, which has given DeChambeau plenty of eyeballs. He has more than 3 million subscribers. DeChambeau has suggested he could devote time to YouTube and play the four majors, though it’s always hard to tell if he’s serious. In his first public comments since the breakaway golf league announced it would shutter rather than launch a new version, DeChambeau in a social media post on Sunday expressed no regrets for his last four years on LIV Golf and offered no clear details what was next for him. He also invoked Arnold Palmer in saying the golf universe doesn’t revolve around him.

PORTLAND, Oregon — Damian Lillard scored 25 points and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a two-game skid with a 123-103 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. Deni Avdija added 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Blazers in the first of back-to-back home games against Oklahoma City. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had

LOS ANGELES–Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova upset Coco Gauff to storm into the last four of the WTA Finals at Indian Wells on Tuesday as Jessica Pegula reignited her challenge with victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. Czech eighth seed Noskova took advantage of a shaky serving performance by Gauff to complete a 6-3, 6-3 victory in

PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Tatum dapped up Jaylen Brown with a friendly tap on the shoulder and thump on the chest which his former Boston teammate ignored. Brown gave him a cold shoulder. Tatum got the hot hand. Brown ignored Tatum’s brief show of affection, perhaps a fitting illustration of a frosty relationship that has included

MANILA, Philippines — It’s better late than never for the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles as they finally found their footing to end their woes in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series.  Already out of contention after a 0-5 start, ZUS Coffee refused to give up from two sets down to oust Galeries Tower, 17-25, 21-25, 25-20,

On Friday, two Asian powerhouses meet in Qatar. Saudi Arabia and South Korea have had some titanic clashes over the years — not least when the Taeguk Warriors lost 2-0 in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, in 2005, which resulted in head coach Jo Bonfrere losing his job despite the team qualifying for the World Cup. Just four years later, Korea went on to win in the Kingdom and qualify for the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Now they meet in Qatar in a friendly game that was supposed to be preparation for January’s Asian Cup. However, due to conflict in the region, it has been postponed from January to the following December. It leaves a big hole in the calendar not just for Korea, but all the national teams that had planned to participate. It also creates uncertainties for interim coach Robert Moreno, whose contract runs through the end of November, — with the possibility of an extension through to the Asian Cup and the possibility of permanent appointment, if all went well. Now there is no tournament to prepare for, removing some of the urgency for the coach and players. Indeed, a number of

Former South Korean football star Park Ji-sung has reunited with legendary coach Guus Hiddink to celebrate his 80th birthday, bringing back memories of the country's historic run at the 2002 FIFA World Cup more than two decades ago. On Wednesday, Park's wife, Kim Min-ji, shared a photo on her social media account showing herself, Park and Hiddink smiling together. Alongside the photo, she posted a heartfelt message celebrating the Dutch coach's milestone birthday and reflecting on the lasting impact of the 2002 tournament. "What were you doing during the 2002 World Cup?" Kim wrote, recalling a question that she said could instantly spark an hourlong conversation among Koreans old enough to remember the tournament. She said the question holds a special place in the collective memory of South Koreans, regardless of where or how they first met. According to Kim, even people who rarely talk about themselves cannot resist sharing their personal memories when someone brings up the 2002 World Cup. "If someone mentions the 2002 World Cup at a gathering of Koreans, no matter how unexpected the tim

SALT LAKE CITY — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, Davion Mitchell added 19 points, and the Miami Heat outlasted the depleted Utah Jazz 115-109 on Tuesday night. The Heat also got 14 from Pelle Larsson but needed late blocks from Klay Thompson and Bam Adebayo to secure their third win in their last four games.

NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson scored 23 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 16 rebounds, and the New York Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-85 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory. OG Anunoby made five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points for the Knicks, who have won six of seven since an

San Beda University is poised and ready to defend its crown in the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball tournament.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran will enter the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball quarterfinals as the top seed in Group A after wrapping up its group-stage campaign with a 9-4 record.

Calvin Abueva appears ready to call it a career after revealing his plans to retire from the PBA soon.

MANILA, Philippines — The Adamson Soaring Falcons soared above the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 62-55, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday to end their 4-game skid and inject life in their flickering UAAP Season 89 men's basketball Final Four chances. Missing Adamson's last two games, foreign student athlete Precious Jonah made an empathic return with 11 ponts, 17 rebounds, and three blocks to lead Adamson, which picked up its first win in the second round. The Soaring Falcons elevated to 5-7 and drag the Blue Eagles to the same record for a share of sixth place. Manu Anabo aided Jonah with nine points and five reobunds. Shawn Tuano racked up 11 points and three rebounds to pace Ateneo.

Adamson University snapped its four-game losing streak after defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 62-55, in the UAAP Season 89 men"s basketball tournament on Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and outplayed former Boston teammate Jaylen Brown, and Paul George hit six 3-pointers and scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, leading the Celtics past the 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night. Brown ran into early foul trouble and scored only 13 points in his first game against

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament Adamson def. Adamson, 62-55 Previous Jonah Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

ANTIPOLO—Coach Tim Cone expects Gilas Pilipinas to keep the same core, alongside newly minted naturalized player Bennie Boatwright, as Gilas resumes its Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers campaign later this month. Gilas is set to arrive in Malaysia on Nov. 21 to begin preparations for the fifth window of qualification in Seremban, with the players

Tim Cone has seen his fair share of great players and leaders in his nearly four decades in the PBA, but one name stands out among the rest.

MANILA, Philippines–Rhenz Abando is making his return for Gilas Pilipinas after being included in the 12-man roster for the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas made the announcement on Wednesday, with Abando being one of the notable names on the roster that will aim for victories over