ALEXANDRIA Luz Enriquez spearheaded the Philippine fight in the 20th Asian Games jiu jitsu competitions, taking a silver medal in the women’s -63kg on the final day of the continental meet in Japan on Saturday. With world champions Annie Ramirez and Kimberly Custodio suffering early exits, Enriquez rose as the gold medal contender for the Filipinos by reaching the final. Unfortunately, Enriquez bowed to Orapa Senatham of Thailand in a tightly-contested bout at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall Mat 2. Despite a 0 scorecard, the Thai won over the Filipino as she scored an advantage for a near-pass or near-sweep. Senatham almost held Enriquez down, but she rolled over and scrambled out before getting a point. In jiu-jitsu, a player must hold their opponent down for at least three seconds to earn a point from the judges. Enriquez started her campaign with wins over Palestinian Dania Obaid and Kazakh Marian Zhuravleva in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. The 27-year-old then defeated Mongolian Narakhishig Baasanjargal in the semifinals to enter the gold medal round. A gold medalist at the Asian Beach Games, Enriquez increased the Philippine jiujitsu team’s medal haul this Asian Games to two after Kaila Napolis’ bronze on Friday. Napolis defeated Mongolian Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0, in the women’s 52kg division battle for third place. Meanwhile, another Filipino bet Andea Lois Lao finished just outside the podium after a 0-2 loss to Baasanjargal. Other Philippine jiujitsu artists Vito Luis Luzuriaga and David Miranda suffered early exits on Saturday, falling to Mongolian counterparts. Luzuriaga yielded to Altangerel Bayarkhuu in the men’s 85kg round of 32, while Miranda bowed to Batbayar Batsukh also in the round of 32 in the same weight division.

DESPITE the exodus of Filipino cage talents who now play overseas in Japan and South Korea, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial remains optimistic that the pro league’s next rookie draft in Jan. 2027 will welcome a fresh influx of talents from the collegiate ranks. Marcial said the pro league will be holding the annual PBA Rookie Draft on Jan. 17, 2027. “I’ve heard from many of our basketball friends that the coming draft will be talent heavy, especially those coming from the UAAP and the NCAA since the tournaments are already done by December,” Marcial told The Manila Times in Filipino. Even players from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League are expected to join the draft, which could bring in young blood for Asia’s first professional league. Geo Chiu, who helped the Abra Weavers win the 2025 MPBL championship, in fact, emerged as the top pick in last year’s rookie draft. The talent depth could potentially attract former Ateneo big man Kymani Ladi, recent Asian Games Gilas 3x3 player Nic Cabanero, former Adamson forward Cedrick Manzano, Forth Padrigao, along with Fil-Americans DJ Fenner and Remy Martin, who recently played for Strong Group in the Williams Jones Cup. While the pro league has significantly lost major Filipino basketball talents, as some have opt to sign and play in the Japan B. League and Korean Basketball League, Marcial welcomed the competition from overseas. The league chieftain also maintained that the PBA remains unique, in that, it continues to provide a solid path for players who used to play overseas to continue their careers in the Philippines. “(Playing overseas) It has been there to provide livelihood for the players. That’s fine with us in the PBA. And they (Japanese and Korean pro leagues) are not threats,” he said. “We also know some of them will still come back and play in the PBA.”

ALEX Eala is quickly turning the page after her gold-medal bid fell short at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, shifting her full attention to her upcoming return to the WTA Tour. The Filipina netter must swiftly move past her disappointing campaign as she prepares to compete in the Wuhan Open in China from Oct. 12 to 18, followed immediately by the Ningbo Open, also in China, from October 19 to 25. “I’m going to Wuhan and continue the Tour,” Eala said after her impressive run was halted in the semifinals. Eala suffered a tough 6-3, 3-6, 2-6 defeat against China’s Wang Xiyu, settling for the bronze medal. Despite the setback, she expressed deep gratitude to those who supported her, emphasizing that she gave her absolute all on the court against her Chinese opponent. Reflecting on her stint, Eala remains positive about the experience, highlighting the valuable lessons learned and the specific areas of her game she plans to refine moving forward. “Happy that I was able to have this experience,” she shared. The exit was particularly heartbreaking as Eala entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and highest-ranked player, making her a strong favorite for the championship. Furthermore, she opted to skip the WTA 1000 Beijing Open—a mandatory WTA event—putting her at risk of penalties. However, Eala has no regrets about her decision, holding her head high over the privilege of representing the Philippines in a prestigious event held only once every four years.  With her national duty complete, her sights are now set entirely on her upcoming professional schedule on the WTA Tour.

TWO-TIME Olympic medalist Carlo Paalam’s split-decision loss in the 2026 Asian Games gold-medal bout struck a familiar chord with fellow Olympic boxer Eumir Marcial, who experienced a similar defeat against a host nation. Paalam was poised to end the Philippines’ 16-year Asian Games boxing gold medal drought on Friday at the Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan. However, he fell short in a narrow 3-2 decision against Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi in the men’s 52-kilogram division. The outcome mirrored Marcial’s run at the 2022 Hangzhou Games (held in 2023), where he claimed silver in the men’s 80-kilogram division after a tight final against China’s Tanglatihan Touhetaerbieke. Both Filipino boxers lost their respective gold-medal bouts to fighters competing on home soil. Following the match, Paalam voiced frustration with the officiating, claiming the referee repeatedly disrupted his rhythm. “I was performing well, but the referee kept intervening. It wasn’t a good decision. Every time I gained momentum, he stopped me. It felt like he was focusing entirely on me,” Paalam said in Filipino via the Philippine Olympic Committee. Reflecting on the match, Marcial shared a message of solidarity on Facebook, recalling his own experience in Hangzhou. “Back at the 2023 Asian Games, I felt I was robbed in the finals as well. I believed I won and was bringing home the gold,” Marcial posted. “Losing to the host country isn’t new. But whatever the decision, we have to accept it, move forward, and keep chasing the dream. Congratulations, brother. Salute.” Marcial opted out of the 2026 Asian Games following a recent professional bout in the United States, where he secured a knockout victory over Omar Ulises Huerta. The Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) and Marcial mutually agreed to skip the tournament to avoid the physical risks of rapidly transitioning back to the amateur format.

DETROIT — The lengthy negotiations between the Detroit Pistons and star center Jalen Duren didn’t leave any lingering animosity, at least not in the mind of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Duren, an All-NBA Third Team selection last season, agreed to a five-year, $200 million contract. There were reports during the offseason that the restricted free agent sought sign-and-trade options and even felt disrespected by the front office. Duren, who was not made available to the media, underwent a physical and other testing on Friday and is expected to start practicing as early as this weekend. Bickerstaff brushed aside any suggestion that Duren might not be fully invested in rejoining the team. “The most important thing for us was having JD back with us and I know JD wanted to be back,” Bickerstaff said. “All that stuff that was floating (around), we know what’s real. It’s a negotiating process and we went through the process and we knew he’d be back.” Duren had little leverage, other than to sign a $9.6 million qualifying offer — which expired on Thursday night — and become an unrestricted free agent after this season. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon repeatedly stated he had no interest in dealing his starting center. Duren was eligible for a five-year contract worth up to $287 million but the fully guaranteed deal will still make him one of the top 10 centers in terms of annual salary. “There’s never been any bitterness between the group and how we feel about him and I know how he feels about us,” Bickerstaff said. Duren averaged a career-high 19.5 points last season, along with 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting. He struggled in the playoffs, averaging 10.2 points as the top-seeded Pistons failed to get out of the second round.

BEIJING — Novak Djokovic survived a scare to beat outsider Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the second round of the China Open on Friday night in Beijing. It was not an easy fight for the 39-year-old Serbian, a firm favorite in China who has never lost in Beijing in 31 matches. Pumped-up home hope Bu, 24, threatened to spoil the party in the marathon two-hour 52-minute match, frustrating Djokovic by pushing him back and forth across the baseline. The former world number one needed a medical timeout for his torso after giving back a break in the second set, but held on in a tense tie-break to force a deciding third. Back with better tennis, 11th-ranked Djokovic won four games in a row and held serve before sinking a backhand winner. “Amazing atmosphere tonight,” Djokovic told an electrified crowd, adding he “tried to give my all”. Ongoing health issues have clouded the tennis star’s 2026 season, his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam ending with a shock first-round exit at the US Open after vomiting and cramping on court. But feeling refreshed in Friday’s decider was a welcome change from “investing my emotional, mental... and physical” energy on those issues rather than his game, he told reporters in Beijing. “Finally that I get to play tennis, you know, without really thinking about all the other things happening,” he said. He will play either Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the top seed in Beijing, or Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng in the quarter-final. Just before the men’s late-night thriller on centre court, Aryna Sabalenka sent down 11 aces as she dismissed Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-3 to launch her China Open title charge. The world number two from Belarus next faces Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32 in the women’s 1000-level event. Sabalenka groaned over a smattering of unforced errors during the 62-minute match but had the clear edge over Mexico’s Zarazua, ranked 94th, breaking to win on the second time of asking. “I was just trying to stay focused on myself. Tried to stay aggressive on my serve, on the return as well,” the 28-year-old said. “So happy with the game I played today.” Earlier on Friday, Japan’s Naomi Osaka wrestled back control to survive her second-round clash with Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The four-time Grand Slam champion next plays Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic. French Open champion Mirra Andreeva of Russia overcame a first-set wobble to beat Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6, 6-0, 6-0. Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, a 2025 Beijing finalist, beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-1. Andreeva next faces Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova and Noskova will meet Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the third round. Elsewhere in the men’s draw, a series of searing forehands from Daniil Medvedev sent qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta home 6-4, 6-2, earning the Russian world number six a second-round meeting with Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday (Saturday in Manila) ahead of his farewell game with the national team. Messi is set to play in a friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a final appearance for the team he led to a World Cup title in 2022. The Argentine Football Association said the goal of the match is to ensure “the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves.” Messi, who announced his international retirement on Aug. 31, flew in from Miami on a private jet with his family, landing in his hometown of Rosario, 300 kilometers (about 190 miles) north of Buenos Aires. Several fellow 2022 World Cup champions will join the celebrations. However, Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were unable to attend after Roma declined to release them. Messi’s decision brings the curtain down on a historic 21-year international career in the Albiceleste jersey, leaving behind a legacy that includes 125 goals and reaching two more World Cup finals — losing to Spain this year and Germany in 2014. Messi is not taking part in any of Argentina’s other games in this international window. The team beat Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and will also play Burkina Faso on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers expect superstar Shohei Ohtani to be nearing full strength when they take on the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series with an eye on a third straight World Series title. The four-time Most Valuable Player, who landed in the injured list with nagging left knee and right biceps injuries late in the regular season, has benefitted from five days off as the 100-win Dodgers enjoyed a first-round bye, manager Dave Roberts said. “I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time. “Every day from the training staff, it keeps getting better... he’ll be a threat in the lineup.” The Dodgers are chasing the first World Series three-peat since the New York Yankees won it all in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Tarik Skubal — the two-time reigning Cy Young Award-winner acquired from Detroit in August to bolster that bid — is expected to start game one of the best-of-five series against the Braves on Saturday. The Milwaukee Brewers, the top seeds in the National League after winning 103 regular-season games, will take on the San Diego Padres while in the American League the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays face the New York Yankees and the second-seeded Cleveland Guardians meet the Chicago White Sox — who had the backing of lifelong fan Pope Leo XIV during their Wild Card win over the Houston Astros. The Braves topped the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in the best-of-three Wild Card series to book their sixth post-season showdown with the Dodgers. Atlanta have been buoyed by the dominant pitching of Chris Sale and a resurgent Tyler Mahle while the Dodgers, even with Ohtani unable to pitch, have a formidable rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow in addition to Skubal. “Everyone knows the Dodgers have a juggernaut, but we played well against them this year,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss, who was scrambling to get his roster settled as the team headed to Los Angeles after beating Philadelphia 6-2 on Thursday night to clinch their series win. “That doesn’t carry a whole lot of stock. Once the playoffs begin everybody starts at zero. The Dodgers are healthier now than they were when we saw them.” The Brewers finished with the best record in baseball for the second straight year and after falling short of the fall Classic in each of their past nine trips to the playoffs they’re determined to cash in on their regular-season capital. But they’ll face a red-hot team in the Padres, who clinched a playoff berth with a 16-5 record in September and swept the Chicago Cubs 2-0 in their Wild Card series.

IVINS, Utah — Austin Smotherman made 10 birdies Friday (Saturday in Manila) to match the lowest round of his PGA Tour career, a 9-under 62 that gave him a one-shot lead in a Bank of Utah Championship where making birdies is the only way to make up ground. Kevin Roy opened with a pair of 63s and broke by five shots his best 36-hole score. In perfect conditions at the Black Desert Resort, that left him one shot behind Smotherman. Smotherman, playing in his 100th PGA Tour event and still looking for his first victory, made all but two of his 10 birdies from inside 10 feet. His longest was a 20-footer on the par-3 17th, part of a birdie-birdie-birdie finish that gave his second 36-hole lead of the year at 17-under 125. He also led after 36 holes at the Cognizant Classic, where he tied for second. “It was just very steady — a lot of greens, a lot of fairways, a couple tight wedges,” Smotherman said. “It’s what you’ve got to do to shoot 9 under.” He also shot 62 at the Cognizant Classic in February and the Bermuda Open four years ago. Doug Ghim had another bogey-free round, this one a 62 that left him two shots behind along with Kevin Streelman, who had a 65. The late drama came from Jackson Koivun, the 21-year-old who finished at Auburn in June and was unbeaten in the Presidents Cup last week at Medinah. Koivun was outside the projected cut line for much of the afternoon and came to the par-5 18th needing birdie to assure playing the weekend. His drive found the bunker down the left side, slightly down because of the rake grooves. He still went with a 5-wood with lava rock down the left side. He cleared that and stayed short of more trouble, then hit a pitch-and-run to 6 feet for birdie and 67. That allowed Koivun to make the cut on the number at 6-under 136. Among those who missed the cut was Utah native Tony Finau. The Bank of Utah Championship is the second of eight tournaments that are part of the FedEx Cup Fall, where the top 100 in the standings at the end of the year keep full cards for next year. The top 60 are assured of getting into $20 million signature events at Pebble Beach and Riviera.

NAGOYA, Japan — A gold medal for two South Korean golfers at the Asian Games would mean more than a chunk of metal to dangle around their necks. For Kim Joo-hyung and Kim Seong-hyeon, winning gold at the Asian Games — in the men’s individual or team event — would excuse them from mandatory military service at home. Kim Joo-hyung goes by Tom Kim when he plays on the PGA Tour, and Kim Seong-hyeon goes by S.H. Kim. Under any name, they got a good start in the first round on Wednesday toward landing the exemption. The final round is Saturday. “I am 100% nervous,” S.H. Kim said. “A lot of pressure.” He added he’s struggling with knee and back injuries and was not optimistic about his chances in the individual event. “Team gold is easier,” he said. Japan led the men’s team competition after the first round, with South Korea and China two strokes behind. In the individual event, Wang Wei-hsuan of Taiwan and Kazuki Higa of Japan were tied at 5-under 65 atop the leaderboard at Kasugi Country Club. Mun Do-yeob, the third member of the South Korea team, was tied with four others at 4-under 66. Unlike his teammates, 35-year-old Mun doesn’t need the exemption. In South Korea most men serve 18-21 months of military service. “I already finished my military service so I don’t really think about the military (exemption)”, Mun said. “But I want to play good, so we make our team get a gold medal ... to make sure they don’t go to the military.” The format is 72 holes of stroke play. The teams are made up of three players, but only the best two scores count each day toward the team total.

MEDINAH, Illinois — Jackson Koivun crushed his tee shot on No. 18 and twirled his driver in the air as he strutted toward the fairway. The 21-year-old Koivun looked quite comfortable in his Presidents Cup debut. More like a seasoned veteran than the youngest player on the US team. The former Auburn star defeated Si Woo Kim 2 up in singles, part of an epic rally for the Americans in a 17-13 victory over the International squad. He went 2-0-1 in his three matches at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago. “I put him in a big spot today, a really big spot,” US captain Brandt Snedeker said. “That was a massive match. If we were going to have any chance today, he had to win that match. The guys were cheering in the room last night when we made that decision to put him in that spot. The whole team went crazy because they knew they wanted the kid to go up against Si Woo, and he delivered today in a big way.” Koivun led the Tigers to the NCAA title in June. Almost two months later, the California native won the 3M Open in his third professional start, holding off Scottie Scheffler on the way to the victory. Despite his lack of experience, Koivun was selected by Snedeker for the American team. He became the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2013 to start a year without a tour card and play in the Presidents Cup. “I had some goals, but for it to come this quickly is definitely shocking, and I’m just thankful and grateful for the trust the captains put in me to put me out in three of the five matches,” Koivun said. Koivun teamed with Justin Thomas for a 4-and-3 victory over Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria in fourballs on Thursday. He rested during Friday’s foursomes — a 5-0 sweep for the International team — before playing with Thomas again on Saturday in a fourballs match against Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im that was halved. “He’s really just — he gets it. He’s very mature,” Thomas said. “It just was really cool to kind of just watch him do his thing. I’ll never in my life forget the smile he had on his face when he put the tee in the ground on Thursday morning and he was about to hit.” Koivun fell behind at the beginning of his singles match against Kim, losing two of the first four holes. He got one back when he made an 18-footer for birdie on No. 5, a 480-yard, par-4. But Kim restored his 2-up lead when he birdied No. 9 and Koivun missed a 6-footer. Koivun rallied with an impressive finish, winning five of the last eight holes. He tied the match with a 12-footer for birdie on No. 12. He opened a 2-up lead on No. 15, when he hit it into 7 feet and Kim missed a 6-footer. Up one going into No. 18, Koivun showed no signs of any nerves. He blasted a 310-yard drive into the fairway and an 8-iron from 159 into 8 feet, punctuating each swing with a twirling club and a confident walk toward the green. Koivun’s victory guaranteed at least a tie for the US, and the Americans closed it out from there. Koivun was one of the first players to hold the Cup during the closing ceremony, capping a valuable experience for the phenom. “Yeah, I think I’ll just take a lot of knowledge that I can be out here and I can compete,” he said. “It’s just exciting being able to call these guys my friends, and now when I go to tournaments it’s not like, ‘Oh, there’s so and so.’ It’s like, ‘I was on a team with them and we won the Presidents Cup.’”

Alexandria Enriquez won a silver medal in the jiu-jitsu competion to add to the Philippines' haul in the 2026 Asian Games, which now stands at 29 medals as of Saturday, October 3.

MANILA, Philippines — Refusing to buckle under pressure, Jhonnel Ababa staged a dramatic late-round comeback on Friday, birdieing the final two holes to edge Jeffren Lumbo by one shot and capture the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge title with a scintillating 63 at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club. The seasoned campaigner and former Order of Merit champion unleashed a furious closing charge, pulling level with Lumbo on the 17th before sinking another clutch birdie on the 72nd hole. The electric finish ignited roaring cheers from the large crowd gathered around the 18th green. Ababa’s closing surge capped a remarkable stretch-run battle after Lumbo, who finished with a 67, had appeared firmly in control entering the final round. The 30-year-old Lumbo had opened a three-shot cushion over Ababa and Francis Morilla following a near-flawless third-round showing on Thursday, putting himself in prime position to claim his second career victory. But Ababa refused to let the gap dictate the outcome. Under sweltering conditions, the multi-title campaigner steadily chipped away at Lumbo’s advantage while a host of contenders, including Morilla, Reymon Jaraula, Clyde Mondilla, Ira Alido, and Rupert Zaragosa, also tried to stay within striking distance. With the field gradually running out of holes, Ababa made his move. A stirring birdie-birdie-eagle surge from No. 12 brought him level with Lumbo at 13-under with four holes remaining, setting up a tense, nerve-wracking duel between two determined contenders. Lumbo answered with a clutch birdie on No. 15 to regain the outright lead and appeared to have stemmed Ababa’s charge. But the veteran refused to blink. Ababa stayed composed down the stretch, then delivered the decisive blow on No. 17, sinking another birdie to draw level once more and set up a winner-take-all finish on the 18th. With the title hanging in the balance, Ababa delivered one final clutch shot, setting himself up with a four-foot birdie putt after Lumbo’s approach finished some three pins away. When Lumbo agonizingly missed his birdie attempt, the door was wide open for Ababa. He took his time, carefully reading the break and judging the distance, while keeping his composure and resolve firmly intact. Then, with confidence, Ababa stroked the putt. The ball rolled true and disappeared into the hole, completing a stunning comeback and securing a one-stroke victory over Lumbo on a closing seven-under card and a 14-under 266 total worth P440,000. Lumbo closed with a three-under card to settle for his third runner-up finish of the year at 267 and pocketed P287,500, while Jaraula fired a 66 to snatch third place at 270 after one of the fiercest four-day duels in Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) history. Mondilla carded a 67 to tie Morilla, who shot a 69, for fourth at 272, while Zaragosa posted a second straight 68 to finish sixth at 273. Negros Occidental leg winner Art Arbole rallied with a 68 to tie Alido, who matched par with a 70, and Japan’s Miki Ryoma, who slipped with a 71, for seventh at 275. The victory marked Ababa’s 14th PGT title. Ever humble and magnanimous in victory, Ababa attributed the unlikely triumph to Divine providence, admitting he never expected to win after trailing Lumbo by a wide margin. "God really granted this victory to me. I didn't expect to win here because Jeffren had a big lead. So He truly blessed me with this," said Ababa, who dedicated the victory to his family, including his late wife, Mailyn, and their sons, John Michael and Samuel. Despite being two shots down with seven holes to play, Ababa knew the match was far from over. Rather than dwell on the deficit, he focused on executing the basics and giving himself a chance. "I didn't feel pressured. I just told myself to hit the fairway and green, and maybe I'd get lucky. On No. 17, the line was good," he said. With a playoff as his immediate goal, Ababa stayed patient and waited for an opening. "I was really just aiming for a playoff to give myself a chance. But he missed his putt, and I made mine in one," he added. No sudden death ensued as Ababa seized the opportunity with a clutch approach. His solid drive on the 18th left him just 50 yards from the pin. He pulled out his trusted 60-degree wedge and stuffed it to within four feet, setting himself up for the winning putt. The victory underscored Ababa’s experience and composure under pressure, as he transformed a three-shot deficit into a dramatic closing triumph with a fiery four-under card over three holes and back-to-back birdies when it mattered most. It was also a major redemption for him after his third-place finish in Negros Occidental last year, where he slugged it out with Arbole through the first three rounds before fading on the final day, enabling Lumbo to seize runner-up honors. For Lumbo, the rising Sarangani star who also finished second at Pinewoods, the defeat came after he had controlled much of the tournament and appeared poised to add another title to his young professional career. Instead, it was Ababa who owned the final stretch — turning the 17th and 18th into the decisive holes and walking away with the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge crown. TMT

Jiu-jitsu"s Alexandria Enriquez secured the Philippines" ninth silver medal in the 2026 Asian Games to cap the country"s campaign -- its best performance in the Asian Games since 1962.

MANILA, Philippines — The young pair of Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara gifted the Philippines its first-ever Asian Games medal in beach volleyball. Progella and Pagara copped a historic bronze medal in the 2026 Asian Games beach volleyball event after outlasting China’s duo of Shuting Cao and Jie Dong, 21-13, 21-23, 15-13, on Friday at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court in Aichi, Japan. This is the first time the Philippines has earned a podium finish in beach volleyball since the sport was introduced in the Asian Games in 1998. Progella, 20, and Pagara, 21, are both beach volleyball standouts of the University of Santo Tomas. The young guns made sure to earn a medal finish after the exit of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons on Wednesday, when the two Alas veterans fell to Thailand’s Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee and Taravadee Naraphornrapat, 17-21, 21-12, 13-15, in the quarterfinals.

Kieffer Alas powered Ateneo de Manila past National University and to the top of the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball standings with an 87-76 win at the PhilSports Arena Saturday. Alas unleashed 10 of his 18 points in the final canto including the dagger trey in the last 15 seconds, as the Blue Eagles erased a 17-point, 19-36 first half deficit to rise to 3-1. Alas added five rebounds, four assists, and three steals to his name while Andrew Bongo aided him with 16 points. Shawn Tuano and Travis Roberts poured 14 points apiece while EJ Kapihe chipped in 12. Tebol Garcia poured 18 points and three rebounds for the Bulldogs, who dropped to third with a 2-2 slate.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament Ateneo def. NU, 87-76 Kieffer Alas Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

The Philippine Blu Girls failed to make the podium and settles for fourth place in women’s softball at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine team bowed to Chinese Taipei, 12-2, at the Anjo Softball Ground on Saturday in their battle for the bronze medal. While the Blu Girls narrowly missed a place on the podium, their run here saw the team overcoming early setbacks, stringing together crucial victories and making its way into medal contention.  Chinese Taipei established control early, scoring four runs in the opening inning before adding eight in the second.  The Blu Girls, however, refused to go away quietly, responding with two runs in the third inning.  Nicole Adra Hammoude delivered both RBIs, recording a hit and scoring once, while Mylia Isabel Perez also crossed home plate.  Ma. Angelu Gabriel and Reyae Mae Villamin added a hit apiece as the Philippines finished with four hits against Chinese Taipei's 13.  Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asa-Phil) president Jean Henri Lhuillier commended the national team for the fight and determination it showed throughout the Asian Games.  “Of course, we wanted to see the Blu Girls come home with a medal, but this campaign gave us many reasons to be proud. They faced some of the strongest teams in Asia, fought their way back after a difficult start, and never stopped competing for the flag. That resilience is what defines this team,” said Lhuillier, who is also president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. “We will continue to support them, build on everything we learned here, and keep working toward the day Philippine softball finally reaches that Asian Games podium.”  The bronze medal game brought an end to a campaign marked by resilience from the Blu Girls in this 8-nation tournament.  With another high-level international campaign behind them, the Blu Girls leave Japan with valuable experience to build on as they continue their pursuit of a breakthrough Asian Games medal for Philippine softball.

Follow this afternoon’s football in our live blog, including Gillingham’s home game with Newport.

Kieffer Alas starred anew as Ateneo de Manila University completed a come-from-behind victory against National University, 87-76, in UAAP Season 82 on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Boxing icon and chess enthusiast Manny Pacquiao wants to see more Filipino grandmasters in the next few years as part of his legacy to the sport he loves and plays with passion.  A new chess group, backed by individuals from various sectors of society, has heeded the call of Pacquiao to bring chess to higher levels.  The newly formed National United Chess Federation of the Philippines (NUCFP) installed Pacquiao as its chairman and has gotten a huge support from a chess community waiting for change.  "We want to leave a legacy to the sport by unifying the community first. We've seen so much talent in the country. We have heard the sentiments and frustrations of our fellow athletes. I want to help and contribute," said Pacquaio on Saturday.  No less than Filipino super grandmaster Wesley So, now playing for the US chess federation, has thrown his support to the newly formed group. He expressed willingness to lend a hand to whatever is needed by the NUCFP.  Grandmasters Rogelio Barcenilla Jr., Julio Catalino Sadorra, John Paul Gomez and dozens of other titled players have also signified their intentions to contribute to the chess community and what ails it.  Filipino masters who have made chess as careers, including So, have left the country for greener pastures elsewhere.  Most Filipino chess players want change. Pacquiao declined to accept the post of vice president handed to him by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP). He was elected in absentia.  The NCFP is currently led by its longtime president and chairman Prospero Pichay Jr.  In 2011, Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon became the last grandmasters produced by the federation.  GM Daniel Quizon was awarded the title in 2024. Much of his success, however, was credited to the late Rep. Pidi Barzaga, who funded Quizon’s training in Dasmarinas, Cavite as well as his tournaments abroad.  So, one of the many persons who left the country for better chances to achieve success, openly blamed corruption as the main culprit in the stagnation of local chess development.  The Cavite-born chess genius was forced to change federations after his exploits in winning gold in the 2013 World University Games in Kazan was met by indifference by the NCFP, itself.  It was the last time that So represented the country in the international stage.  "I hope we could bring those talents back to the Philippines," said Pacquaio, whose Pacman Chess Association (PCA) is holding weekly tournaments in Mindanao.

MANILA, Philippines -- Adamson bounced back with a 85-57 beatdown against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena Saturday. Monty Montebon fired 27 points, seven assists, and five rebounds to lead the Soaring Falcons, who recovered from their loss to the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles to rise to 2-1. Unleashing a 31-point fourth quarter performance to put UST away, Adamson created a 5-way tie with Ateneo, National University, University of the Philippines, and Far Eastern University as of posting time. Previouly in that 5-way, 2-1 tie, UST dropped outside with a 2-2 slate.

Adamson University bounced back at the expense of the University of Santo Tomas, 85-57, on Saturday in UAAP Season 89 at the Philsports Arena.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament Adamson def. UST, 85-57 Monty Montebon Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting won an Asian Games gold in her new weight category two years after she was caught up in a gender dispute at the Paris Olympics, while Japan edged out North Korea via penalties in the women's football final in the penultimate day of competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Games on Friday.

Philippine sports standouts Alexandra Eala and EJ Obiena shared some light moments on the sidelines of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Organizers of the next Asian Games in Doha are open to pushing the event back a year to 2031 if the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) decides to make the change, their chief executive said on Thursday.

Hong Kong windsurfers Wong Tsz-ho and Cheung Tsz-yuet both won Asian Games titles on Saturday, taking the city’s gold medal count into double figures for the first time since its athletes started competing in the multi-sport event in 1954. With Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s triumph in the men’s singles little more than an hour earlier securing a record-equalling eighth gold, victory on the water made it nine and 10 for the delegation in Japan. Not even a lack of wind at Kaiyoh Yacht Harbor could spoil...