Two rising stars put the Philippine women’s football team closer to a quarterfinal berth in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on the night its captain pulled off a record-tying feat. Skye Leach and Mallie Ramirez, both 22 years old, scored in each half to give the Filipinas a 2-0 win over Hong Kong at Gifu Nagaragawa

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas women at Asian Games 2026 5×5 basketball Naturalized player Beth Means was good as advertised in her national team debut on Thursday, which saw Gilas Pilipinas routing Kazakhstan, 86-58, to begin its Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games campaign in women’s basketball. Means, who secured her citizenship in July after a lengthy process that included

Rupert Zaragosa comes to Marapara next week with a shot at Philippine Golf Tour history of being the first player to win a tournament three straight years. That also makes him somewhat the sentimental favorite while, at the same time, one who will play with a target on his back, which the talented field will

It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Alas Pilipinas women. And national coach Taka Minowa had to apologize on Thursday after the Philippines missed the quarterfinals in the women’s volleyball competition of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan after a 27-29, 26-24, 25-23, 25-19 defeat to Kazakhstan. “It’s really sad,” Minowa said in an

The bashing that University of Santo Tomas received after the school’s season-opening loss has been hushed—for now. The Tigers and their outspoken coach, Pido Jarencio, made sure of that. “We were bashed a lot on social media. They were calling us names,” Jarencio said after UST’s 92-85 stunner against defending champion La Salle in the

The Philippine men"s football team is back in the Asian Games after a 52-year absence and opened its campaign with a 5-1 loss to Uzbekistan last Tuesday.

MANILA, Philippines — Rising Filipino endurance stars James Earl Ting, Edgie Arances and Anisha Eunice Caluya take center stage in a frenetic battle for the Filipino Elite crowns as the Damosa Land 5150 unwraps Sunday (Sept. 20) in Samal Island, Davao del Norte. Ting and Arances are expected to engage in a fierce men’s duel, while Caluya headlines the women’s side as the country’s emerging elite triathletes vie for top honors on the Olympic-distance course featuring a 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run. Beyond the medals, however, the Filipino Elite Category provides a vital platform for the country’s next generation of endurance racing stars. The specialized division gives top-tier local athletes and national team members an opportunity to test themselves in championship conditions while sharpening the speed, race strategy and competitive experience needed for bigger domestic and international battles. The Elite Category, featured in major Philippine triathlon events such as the 5150 Triathlon and IRONMAN 70.3 series, is designed for qualified high-performance athletes, including past and current national team members. Its emphasis on high-level racing provides a bridge between emerging local talent and the demands of international competition. Ting of BE Tritans comes into the race with considerable momentum after winning the Subic International Triathlon and placing third in the Bohol 5150 last July. Arances, meanwhile, has built valuable experience through campaigns in various local and international endurance events, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown between two of the country’s rising male triathletes. Caluya likewise brings strong credentials to the women’s Elite field. She is a gold medalist in the Sprint Junior Elite Women’s category of the 2026 national age group aquathlon and will look to translate that success into a strong showing over the longer Olympic-distance format. The Filipino Elite Category is part of the Philippine Sports Commission’s continuing effort to strengthen the country’s high-performance sports program while using major competitions to promote national pride and sports tourism. The Damosa Land 5150 is also the final stop of the four-leg 5150 Triathlon Islands of the Philippines Series, which puts elite-level competition against some of the country’s most scenic sporting venues. Organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., the second staging features another strong field from across the Philippines, providing an even bigger test for the country’s emerging elite athletes and established race contenders. The inaugural Damosa Land 5150 established the event as a significant fixture on the Philippine triathlon calendar, combining scenic surroundings with demanding racing and breakthrough performances. This year’s edition promises another showcase of elite endurance talent – and another opportunity for the Philippines’ rising stars to prove they are ready for the next level. The series highlights the Philippines’ potential as a destination for world-class endurance events, with courses that showcase pristine coastlines, rolling hills and scenic highways while giving Filipino athletes a demanding stage on which to compete against strong domestic and international fields. Meanwhile, defending overall champions Eryk Omandam and Natasha Doromal-Lim return, seeking back-to-back titles after ruling the inaugural Damosa Land 5150 last year. Omandam and Doromal-Lim conquered the challenging Olympic-distance course through determined and strategic racing, emerging on top against a strong international field. With both athletes having continued to sharpen their skills through regular training, they are expected to face a stiffer challenge this year while chasing another overall championship. TMT

Gareth Ainsworth believes Gillingham have turned a corner after finally getting the chance to build the team he wanted.

Catch up with all the week’s football fixtures and results here.

MANILA, Philippines — College of Saint Benilde captured its second victory in as many games after dominating Lyceum of the Philippines University, 98-82, in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. St. Benilde opened its campaign with a win over defending champion San Beda University on Sunday and showed consistency against Lyceum. Rookie Matthew Jucom scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Blazers. Irele Galas added 13 points. “Great team effort and strong showing for the team. It’s an overall effort of the guys. Aside from the 21 turnovers,” said Blazers coach Paolo Layug. Justine Sanchez and Allaine Cajucom chipped in 12 points, respectively, while SJ Moore and John Morales added 10 markers each for St. Benilde. Lyceum was led by Renz Villegas who netted 24 points.

A big believer that elite sporting performance is entirely dictated by an athlete’s brain, Greg Koenig is busy convincing Cheung Ka-long that the Asian Games remain an important date in his calendar. Hong Kong’s first fencing superstar, Cheung has been there and done it over the past five years. He brilliantly won a pair of Olympic golds, first as an unfancied underdog, then as the foil king his rivals all wanted to dethrone, either side of becoming Asian Games champion in 2023. Of Cheung’s...

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 NAGOYA–First there was a record deluge, then a shortage of beds and now Asian Games 2026 organizers in Japan are “praying” that a typhoon does not play havoc with a cruise ship housing thousands of athletes. More than 17,000 athletes and officials are

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks said Thursday they are pausing ticket sales after a mistake caused them to be listed for amounts that were too high. The NBA champions put individual game tickets for the 2026-27 season on sale this week. The get-in price for the Oct. 20 season opener against Philadelphia was more than $1,000. “We are pausing Knicks individual ticket sales due to a mistake in our pricing. We are rolling back to last year’s prices plus an average increase of 12%. We will restart sales with new prices shortly, and anyone who already purchased individual tickets will be refunded the difference," Madison Square Garden Sports said in a statement. There is generally a ticket increase after seasons when the Knicks made the playoffs. Owner James Dolan has not raised them when the team does not. “Our intention was never to overcharge our loyal fans, and we thank everyone for their support of the Knicks and their patience as we get this right,” MSG said. The process for purchasing season tickets began months ago and was not affected. "Fan first" sales for those who sign up to get priority for single-game tickets at face value was on Monday and Tuesday, and general public sales began Wednesday.

NEW YORK — New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson will make a guest-starring appearance on “Law & Order: SVU” this fall. NBC announced Thursday that Brunson will appear in the season’s fifth episode, which is scheduled to air Nov. 5. Details on Brunson’s exact role weren’t revealed. Brunson already is set to host the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” on Sept. 26. He made an appearance Monday in the opening of the Emmy Awards telecast that was hosted by “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay. Hargitay is a Knicks fan who attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals as New York rallied from a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106, a victory that sparked the franchise to its first title since 1973. Hargitay and Brunson hugged on the court after the game.

MANILA, Philippines – Five Filipinos carry the Team Philippines’ medal hopes in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 weightlifting competition. The weightlifting tournament is scheduled from September 23 to September 29 at Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center. SOURCE: Asian Games official website. Information is subject to change. SCHEDULE: Team Philippines at Asian Games 2026 weightlifting

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s football team boosted its chances of reaching the quarterfinals of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 after defeating Hong Kong, 2-0, on Thursday at Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium. Skye Leach scored her first international goal early in the first half before Mallie Ramirez doubled the lead past the hour mark as the Filipinas

MANILA, Philippines – Led by Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, Team Philippines competes in the women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics competition in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The qualification events and the apparatus finals are scheduled from September 21 to September 25 at Rainbow Hall of Nagoya City General Gymnasium. SOURCE: Asian Games official

(Updated as of September 17) MANILA, Philippines–Seven boxers fight for a medal finish for Team Philippines in the Asian Games 2026 boxing tournaments in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The men’s and women’s boxing competition will run from September 21 to October 12 at Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi. SOURCE: Asian Games official website. Information is subject to change.

MANILA, Philippines — Team captain Jia De Guzman and Angel Canino remain determined to help Alas Pilipinas women to finish strong in the Asian Games 2026 volleyball tournament despite bombing out of medal contention. The Philippines was eliminated from the quarterfinal race after a 29-27, 24-26, 23-25, 19-25  loss to Kazakhstan on Thursday at Okazaki

MANILA, Philippines–Coach Yeng Guiao signed a contract extension to remain with Rain or Shine until 2030, the PBA team announced on Thursday. The Elasto Painters posted a photo of the veteran mentor being flanked by team executives led by co-owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que. His new deal, however, won’t take effect until 2028 as

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is projected to be the No. 3 seed in the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open, which starts September 21 at OCBC Arena. Eala is currently the third-highest-ranked player in the WTA 500 tournament player list at No. 18 in the world. READ: Alex Eala mania heads to Singapore Tennis Open next

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas women at Asian Games 2026 5×5 basketball MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas blew out Kazakhstan, 86-58, on Thursday for a blazing start to its campaign in the women’s basketball 5-on-5 competitions of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Naturalized player Beth Means fired 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting to lead Gilas to a lopsided victory

MIAMI— Lionel Messi scored the 100th goal of his Inter Miami career and Casemiro added another as Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday night to win the Campeones Cup. Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, heading in a cross from Luis Suárez for his 100th goal in 115 appearances across all competitions

MANILA, Philippines — Capital1 landed another prized recruit in former Alas Pilipinas and Galeries Tower setter, Julia Coronel, ahead of the new PVL season. The Solar Spikers on Thursday announced the signing of Coronel, who recently parted ways with Galeries after two years. The setter out of La Salle was drafted by Galeries at No.3

The WTA Finals, the elite season-ending event in women’s tennis, will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the next three years in a move that organizers hope will create “the Super Bowl for women’s sports.” The tournament will be played at the Spectrum Center, home of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, the WTA and the

NAGOYA, Japan  — How big are the Asian Games? Well, they are larger in numbers than the Summer Olympics, which gives you an idea of the magnitude and logistics. READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 The Paris Olympics in 2024 involved 10,700 athletes. The Asian Games 2026 will open Saturday

THE Philippine women’s volleyball team’s bid for a podium finish vanished after bowing to the tall Kazakhstan squad, 29-27, 24-26, 23-25, 19-25, in the Pool B at the 20th Asian Games on Wednesday at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium. Alas Pilipinas will be relegated to the classification round for 9th to 12th places as only the top two teams of each of the four groups will advance to the next round. Alas Pilipinas played well in the opening set and erased a 24-22 lead by Kazakhstan to claim an early 1-0 lead behind the solid plays by Eya Laure and Angel Canino. The Filipinos found themselves in the same scenario in the second and third frames where they kept the scores close with a chance to steal victory in the endgame. This time, the Kazakhs used their height to full advantage as they survived both rallies for a 2-1 advantage.   Alas Pilipinas, however, failed to sustain its intensity and tenacity in the fourth set as Kazakhstan pulled away with a 22-14 lead. Thea Gagate tried to lead a fightback with a kill block even as Kazakhstan made back-to-back errors that kept the Philippines alive. Canino converted a down-the-line hit to cut Kazakhstan’s lead down to 23-18. Bella Belen, however, made a costly attack error that sent Kazakhstan to match point advantage, 24-18, but Solomon continued to fight with a monster block, 24-19. Kristina Belova ended the Philippines’ hopes to advancing as she slammed the victory-clinching point. Canino scored a game-high performance of 24 points on 20 attacks, two aces and two blocks for the Philippines, while Solomon added 20 points. Tatyana Nikitina churned out nine 19 points for Kazakhstan as Zhanna Syroyeshkina backed her up with 17 points. Kazakhstan is ranked 42nd in the FIVB world rankings while the Philippines is No. 56. Kazakhstan will next face defending champion China while the Philippines begins its classification round games on Sunday.  Alas Pilipinas opened its bid here with an 18-25, 22-25, 25-8 setback to China last Wednesday. The Philippine women’s volleyball team has yet to win a medal in the Asian Games but finished at fourth place in 1962 and 1966.

CEBU CITY — The Cebu City government and advocacy group Bornwinner will stage a 2,500-participant running event on Nov. 15 to promote drug prevention and raise funds for a Special Drug Education Center. The Keep Going Cebu City Run for a Cause will form part of the city’s observance of Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week, with the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) and Bornwinner organizing the event. The historic Plaza Independencia will serve as the race’s starting and finishing point. The fun run will offer 1K, 3K, 5K and 10K distance categories with entry fees of P750, P850, P950 and P1,150, respectively. Runners from outside Cebu City may also join through a virtual run for P950 regardless of distance. Registration includes a statement singlet, advocacy race bib, drawstring bag and a finisher’s medal. Participants can write on the advocacy bib what they want to advocate for, allowing the organizers to make the race part of a broader drug prevention message. Run ambassador Jid Durano, who said he has been recovering from drug addiction for six years, said the experiences of members of the organizing team in recovery influenced the event’s advocacy. “I think the key factor in the ongoing process is the organizing team behind it ... Mostly we are recovering. So, our program is anchored in the ideas that we want people to feel,” Durano said. The race singlet will carry Cebu City icons, including Magellan’s Cross, the Santo Niño de Cebu image, a traditional jeepney and the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway bridge. Organizers will hold a foam party and live performances by Midnasty and Durano after the race. Race director Diosdado Mabini Jr. said organizers are still securing approvals for the final route and coordinating with the city’s Technical Working Group and other concerned offices on traffic mitigation, roadworks and participant safety. The organizers expect the race to begin at 4 a.m. and finish by 6 a.m. They plan to use one side of each road instead of requesting full road closures. Cosap executive director Greg Rodriguez, who said he has been sober from alcohol for 11 years, said the activity will promote healthier lifestyles while highlighting prevention and recovery. Cosap will complement the race with other activities during Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week. The Cebu City event is part of the Keep Going series. The organizers will hold the Keep Going Tabogon Run in Tabogon, Cebu, on Oct. 18 and the Keep Going Maribojoc Run in Maribojoc, Bohol, on Nov. 20.

NAGOYA, Japan — How big are the Asian Games? Well, they are larger in numbers than the Summer Olympics, which gives you an idea of the magnitude and logistics. The Paris Olympics in 2024 involved 10,700 athletes. The Asian Games will open Saturday in Nagoya, Japan, with more than 11,000 athletes signed up. The number may be much larger as organizers have acknowledged a last-minute crush of athletes and officials attending. This has put pressure on available housing. The Asian Games were first held in 1951 in New Delhi, India. This is the 20th edition with games last held in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, where about 12,000 athletes attended. Those games were delayed a year by the pandemic. Of course, the Asian Games don’t have quite the star power of the Olympics. But there are big names and plenty of local stars from the 45 countries and regions entered from Afghanistan to Yemen. Many of these nations seldom make a dent at the Olympics. But they have a chance at the Asian Games. As a 12-year-old at last year’s swimming World Championships in Singapore, Yu Zidi finished fourth in her three races — the 200- and 400-meter individual medley and the 200 butterfly. She’s 13 now and will turn 14 in October. World records could fall with swimming taking center stage during the first six days of competition. China will likely dominate the swimming with Olympic gold medalists like Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, Qin Haiyang and Xu Jiayu expected in the field. Pan holds the world record in the 100 freestyle and Qin has the mark in the 200 breaststroke. China topped all teams three years ago with 28 gold medals in swimming. Some call these the “China Games.” China won 201 gold medals at the last games, Japan had 52 with 42 for South Korea. The same overall dominance is expected with the Asian Games closing Oct. 4. South Korean An Se-young, the gold medalist in the 2024 Olympics and badminton’s No. 1-ranked female, is one to watch. She took gold three years ago in women’s singles in China and also picked up a team gold medal. She is fresh off winning her third straight China Masters title. She also took the world title earlier this year. “I have played in so many international tournaments that the Asian Games will feel just like any other event,” the South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted her saying. “But one thing that makes it special is that if I reach the top of the podium, I will get to hear our national anthem.” Philippine tennis star Alex Eala is expected to play in the Asian Games, skipping the WTA 1000 China Open. “I love playing and competing with the Philippine team,” said Eala, who is No. 18 in the WTA rankings. “I think it’s a really fun environment.” Speaking at the recent US Open, she raved about playing last year in the smaller Southeast Asian Games. “There are really memories that stick with me,” she said. “You know the Asian Games happens every four years. I found myself drawn to competing in that.” She won two bronze medals in China three years ago. But going for gold this time may have a price. The China Open is a mandatory WTA event and Eala could face a fine and a ranking-points penalty for skipping it. Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage just won the event at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary. He’ll be the favorite in the Asian Games. That includes being favored over defending Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. He was fifth in Budapest. India’s Neeraj Chopra, the 2020 Olympic champion, will miss the games with an ankle injury. There’s no dedicated athletes village at these games. Up to 5,000 athletes and officials will stay on the Italian liner Costa Serena. Others will be lodged in hotels and in temporary wood containers. Organizers planned for 15,000 athletes and officials. But around August the number soared to 17,000. The Olympic Council of Asia has said those registered by a July deadline will get accommodation. Others who came late have to find their own. Part of the crunch is the addition of new sports like teqball and padel. Also, some delegations seem extraordinary large. China, with 1.4 billion people, is sending 815 and Hong Kong, with a population of only 7.5 million, is sending about 580. Japanese media is reporting that 10,000 police and security forces will be on duty for the opening ceremony on Saturday in Nagoya with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attending. The Emperor is expected to attend a basketball game on Sunday.

WASHINGTON — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, husband of singer Taylor Swift, was among investors defrauded out of millions of dollars by a financial adviser who is going to prison. Kelce was named in court by prosecutors among the victims in a Ponzi scheme, according to St. Louis TV station KMOV, that saw Siddharth Jawahar sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in prison and ordered to pay $31.35 million to Kelce and other investors, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said. Jawahar, 38, was a co-founder and managing partner of Texas-based Swiftarc Capital, whose investors included Kelce. Judge Zachary Bluestone said the duration of the fraud, stemming from 2016, and “enormous” losses involved plus Jawahar’s failure to start repaying victims were key factors in the sentence. Almost all of the funds were consolidated into Philip Morris Pakistan (PMP), and when PMP’s value declined, Jawahar instead told investors it was profitable and falsely told clients their money had been made in specific investments when he never made such investments. The court said Jawahar took more than $35 million from Swiftarc but invested only about $10 million from July 2016 through December 2023, with money spent on private jets, lavish hotels, luxury apartments in Texas and New York, fancy clothes and meals and memberships in private clubs. Jawahar pleaded guilty in January to three counts of wire fraud.