DAVAO CITY – Gab Manotoc finally delivered the kind of opening-round performance that could propel him into the Philippine Golf Tour spotlight, firing a bogey-free six-under 66 Tuesday to catch Japan’s Kashihara Hirotaka at the top in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic at the South Pacific Golf Club here. Long seeking to establish his own identity on the circuit while stepping out of the shadow of his illustrious father, Tommy Manotoc, Gab produced a timely surge on the front nine, rattling off five birdies to turn a modest start into a course-record-tying round. Hirotaka, meanwhile, capitalized on virtually windless conditions during his early start, catching fire on the front nine before negotiating a few rough patches on the way home to reach six-under first. Manotoc faced tougher conditions in the afternoon heat but stayed composed, finishing without a bogey to match the Japanese veteran’s output. The pair’s opening-round scores equaled the course record from the gold tees, previously set by Rico Depilo, Tony Lascuña and Clyde Mondilla in earlier PGT tournaments. Amateur Chris Remata holds the outright benchmark with a 64 in last year’s Mindanao Amateur Open. Manotoc credited his disciplined play and improved putting surfaces for helping him capitalize on his scoring opportunities. “My game was pretty good today. I had no bogeys and six birdies. I left myself in good positions on the greens and trusted my lines,” said Manotoc, whose best finish in four years on the PGT is a tie for fifth at Valley Golf in 2023. “The greens have improved compared with previous years. It’s not necessarily easier, but there are more makeable pars, and I was fortunate to find good spots and hole some putts,” he added. The 28-year-old has been consistent enough to make the cut in all eight of his previous starts this season, but a tie for 12th in Negros Occidental remained his best result entering the ninth leg of the circuit. He also finished runner-up to Angelo Que in a playoff in a separate professional tournament at Pradera Verde. Despite his strong start, Manotoc was reluctant to make predictions about his chances, preferring to keep his attention on his game rather than the leaderboard. “I’m not really expecting anything. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I’ve been hitting it pretty decently. I felt my putter was a little cold last week at Pueblo de Oro, although I actually played well.” Manotoc said he had to remain patient early in the round before finding his rhythm on the greens. “I started a bit slowly. I hit good shots on Nos. 11 and 12 but couldn’t make birdie until No. 16. Then my putter started heating up on the front nine,” he said. “I hit it pretty well, kept things straightforward and didn’t have to save par.” While Manotoc and Hirotaka emerged as the day’s early pace-setters, a crowded pack of challengers also made their presence felt in the P2.5-million tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. With three rounds remaining, the opening-day scoring pointed to another wide-open title chase, as emerging talents, seasoned campaigners and established winners positioned themselves within striking distance. The punishing heat could further test the field as the week unfolds. Mondilla, seeking redemption after a final-round collapse at Pueblo de Oro, closed strongly with three birdies in his last four holes on the front nine to shoot 67 and join Russell Bautista and Lee Song at third, just one stroke off the lead. Sean Ramos showed little sign of fatigue after competing overseas in Macau, carding a 68 just two days after completing his stint there. He shared sixth place with Ivan Monsalve, Marvin Dumandan and amateurs Jacob Rolida and Miguel Ilas. Defending champion Jeffren Lumbo made an early statement of his own, holing out from a pitch for an eagle on par-4 No. 9 – the same hole where he beat Bautista in a dramatic five-hole playoff last year – to salvage a 69 and join Aidric Chan, Fidel Concepcion and Jonas Magcalayo for joint 11th. Several other contenders remained within reach. Iloilo leg winner Jhonnel Ababa was among five players who carded 70s, while Pueblo de Oro champion Rupert Zaragosa and Negros Occidental winner Art Arbole were among eight players sharing 20th place at 71s. The performances of Manotoc and Hirotaka stood out in a season in which neither player had made a serious run at the top of the leaderboard. Manotoc had been a model of consistency without a breakthrough finish, while Hirotaka’s limited PGT appearances yielded a tie for 13th at Summit Point and 33rd at Caliraya Springs, with a missed cut at Pinewoods. For Hirotaka, 34, the opening 66 was an encouraging step in his search for a first breakthrough in a decade as a professional. “I was just very lucky,” he said, recalling his birdie on the par-5 second, where a solid drive set up a four-iron from 210 yards that left him within seven feet of the hole. Hirotaka said the heat did little to disrupt his rhythm. “I played very well despite the heat. The weather didn’t affect my game. It was also hot in Japan, so I was able to play without any problems,” he said. Still, he was careful not to read too much into his position after the opening round, choosing instead to focus on maintaining the same approach over the next 18 holes. “If you miss the green here, it’s quite difficult, so I always try to hit the greens in regulation and make the most of my birdie chances,” he said.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran continued to thrive despite missing top guard Titing Manalili, taking down De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 83-72, to claim the solo lead in Group B of the NCAA Season 102 Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

DAVAO CITY – Chanelle Avaricio turned in a bogey-free four-under 68 to seize a one-stroke lead over a surging Rev Alcantara in the opening round of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic on Tuesday, setting the stage for a potentially explosive second-round battle at the South Pacific Golf Club here. Avaricio looked in complete control with a steady all-around game, then broke away from a crowded leaderboard with clutch birdies on Nos. 11 and 12. Her flawless round put her in prime position to chase a third Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victory this season, but Alcantara's spectacular finish ensured that the race was far from settled. After keeping pace with Martina Miñoza through the early stages, Avaricio pulled clear with consecutive birdies to move to four-under and establish the early advantage. She carried the momentum of her recent triumph at Summit Point, where she edged Yvon Bisera by one stroke last month, into a campaign that could yet yield an even bigger prize. The multi-titled campaigner had earlier conquered the demanding Pinewoods leg before competing on the China Tour, which forced her to skip last week's tournament at Pueblo de Oro. Her commanding start on her return underscored both her readiness and her determination to strengthen her bid for the Order of Merit crown. Currently fifth in the season-long standings, Avaricio remains within striking distance with two legs left, including this week's stop. But with the race for the coveted title tightening, she needs a strong finish – potentially a sweep of the remaining tournaments – to mount a serious challenge for the season's top honor. Standing in her way is an equally determined Alcantara, who turned a shaky start into a statement round with a blistering back-nine charge. After making the turn at 38, Alcantara caught fire with five birdies over her final nine holes to card a 69, putting herself firmly in contention for what would be a breakthrough moment in her recent campaign. Pamela Mariano opened with a 70, while Miñoza slipped out of the immediate chase after closing with consecutive bogeys from No. 8 for a 71. Bisera, who captured her maiden LPGT victory at this very course in 2023, carded four birdies but gave back an equal number of strokes to settle for a 72 alongside Tiffany Lee, who arrived with confidence after beating Bisera by two shots at Pueblo de Oro to end a two-year title drought. Kayla Nocum also dropped a late stroke to miss a share of fourth, joining Bisera and Lee in the tie at fifth. Daniella Uy, Gretchen Villacencio and defending champion Sarah Ababa all struggled to opening 73s, but remain within reach of the leaders with two rounds still to play. With Avaricio setting a demanding early pace and Alcantara finding her rhythm at just the right time, the second round looms as a pivotal test. One solid round could give the leaders breathing room, but a few missed chances or a sudden scoring surge could quickly turn the leaderboard upside down – setting up a tense final-round shootout. For Avaricio, the key to maintaining her advantage is simple: keep trusting the game that delivered her a bogey-free opener. “I was very consistent with my drives and second shots, especially on the front nine,” said Avaricio, who also strung together consecutive birdies from No. 2 before producing another pair at the back. She felt she could have gone even lower after creating several opportunities on the greens. “I had a lot of birdie chances, although I missed a couple of putts. Still, I'm happy with how I played,” she said. The strong start has put Avaricio within 36 holes of a third victory this season, following her triumphs at Pinewoods and Summit Point. But with the chasing pack poised to pounce, she knows there is little room for complacency. Avaricio was also encouraged by the condition of the course, particularly the greens, which she said had improved from last year's setup. “The course is in very good condition, especially compared with last year. The greens are nicer, and the fairways have always been nice,” she said. The punishing heat, however, presented another challenge. Avaricio said she made a conscious effort to stay hydrated throughout the round, taking in plenty of water and electrolytes to maintain her energy. As for the next two rounds, she intends to stick to the plan that served her well in the opener. “I took notes during the practice round, so I'll probably stick with that – the same approach I used today,” she said. Alcantara, meanwhile, had every reason to savor her late surge after recovering from an uneven start to produce one of the day's most impressive finishes. Her five birdies down the stretch reflected a growing feel for the greens and a determination to stay patient even when the early holes failed to go her way. She credited her faith for helping her remain composed, saying she focused on reaching the greens and giving herself chances rather than forcing the issue. “I just stuck to my plan of getting onto the green and, hopefully, closer to the pin. More than anything, I felt that the Lord guided me today,” said Alcantara, who birdied Nos. 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 from close range. Her round nearly produced an even bigger highlight when her approach on No. 5 stopped just inches from the cup, narrowly missing an ace. Despite the bumpy start, Alcantara hit 10 fairways and 14 greens in regulation, statistics that reinforced her belief that she could have gone even lower had a few more birdie attempts dropped. “I actually missed a lot of birdie chances today, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. My goal was to get the ball close to the hole, and if the putt went in, great,” she said. If she can carry that late-round momentum into Wednesday, Alcantara could turn the one-shot deficit into a lead of her own – adding another layer of intrigue to a title race that already features a multiple winner in Avaricio and a host of proven contenders waiting for an opening. The sweltering conditions were another test, forcing Alcantara to rely on her umbrella and towel for much of the round. “It was very hot today. I had my umbrella with me throughout the round and kept a towel over my head for most of the time to shield myself from the sun,” she said. With Avaricio chasing another victory and valuable OOM points, Alcantara emerging as a serious threat after her late rally and a host of others in the hunt, the second round could prove decisive in separating the genuine title contenders from the rest of the field. But at South Pacific, where momentum can change quickly, the final word may have to wait until the last putt drops. TMT

Alex Eala will face fellow young star Diana Shnaider of Russia for the first time on the WTA Tour when they clash in the second round of the Ningbo Open, where a quarterfinals spot is at stake.

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament Letran def. Benilde, 83-72 Denzil Sison-Walker Player of the Game #NCAASeason102

The Philippines bagged another gold medal in the swimming competition at the 5th Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan on Tuesday. Following Ernie Gawilan’s gold on Monday, Ariel Joseph Alegarbes gave the country its second gold medal in the men’s 100 meters backstroke S14, clocking 1:01.56. South Korea’s Kang Sung-ho won the silver medal (1:01.61), while Natirat Meeprom of Thailand took the bronze medal (1:02.08).

Michael Christian Martinez, the country’s first Olympian figure skater, announced on Monday night that he is returning to active competition. “Anyway… I’m competing again. Good luck, knees,” Martinez said in a Facebook post. The 29-year-old Martinez said he will take part in the 2026 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships and hoped to return to international competition next year. “Honestly, I never thought I’d be making this announcement again. It’s been years since I last competed, and since then, life has changed a lot. I’ve been able to do other things, focus more on coaching, and help younger skaters with their own competitive journey,” he wrote. “But one thing I kept getting asked over the years was, When are you competing again? or Are you ever coming back? And my answer was always… probably not. But somehow people kept asking, and I guess a part of me also started wondering… why not? So after a lot of thinking and a lot of convincing (and by a lot, I really mean A LOT), I finally said yes. I’m competing again,” Martinez added. Martinez said he wanted to keep things simple and not try to recreate his days at the Olympics. “This time, I really just want to enjoy competing again. No big expectations, no unnecessary pressure. I’m also keeping things simple. Not trying to recreate my Olympic days. Just training, skating, competing, and hopefully having fun doing it again… Of course, I still have a few personal goals I want to accomplish. But we’ll get to those eventually. For now, I’m just happy to be back,” the two-time Olympian wrote. “I honestly don’t know how far this comeback will go, and maybe that’s what makes it exciting. One competition at a time. Let’s just see what happens. See you at Nationals,” he said. Martinez represented the Philippines in men’s figure skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and also in the 2018 games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Following his Olympic stints, he has since become a content creator under the name MZ Viral. He suffered multiple injuries, hampering his training.

Capital1 survived another five-set thriller, outlasting ZUS Coffee, 20-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 15-8, for its second win in three straight marathon matches in the 2026 PVL Open Conference Siklab Series on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.