Alas’ Rondina-Pons, Progella-Pagara begin Asian Games medal bids

Inquirer.net - Sep 19, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas women’s beach volleyball teams begin their medal quests in the Asian Games 2026 on Sunday at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court in Aichi, Japan. Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons and the fast-rising tandem of Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara play in their respective groups, where the

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FILIPINO tennis ace Alexandra "Alex" Eala ramped up her training for the WTA 500 Singapore Tennis Open which will run from Sept. 21 to 27 at The Kallang. Alex's father, Michael, posted photos of her training in a facility on Friday night. As a top-four player in a 28-player, 500-tier tournament, world No. 18 and No. 3 seed Eala secured a first-round bye to begin her campaign in the second round. Initially seeded No. 6, Eala moved three places up after the withdrawals of world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 13 Diana Shnaider and No. 15 Sorana Cirstea. Pegula, Shnaider, and Cirstea were supposed to claim the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 seeds respectively. World No. 5 Mirra Andreeva became the No. 1 seed while No. 11 Amanda Anisimova seized the No. 2 seed. World No. 19 Elise Mertens elevated to the No. 4 seed, completing the top four players with first-round byes. The Singapore Open was set to begin its qualifying stages on Saturday. After appearing multiple times at the New York Fashion Week, Eala went back to the Philippines on Sept. 13. Eala paid a visit to her alma mater Colegio San Agustin-Makati where she also trained briefly before flying to Singapore. The 21-year-old left for Singapore on Thursday. The Singapore Open serves as Eala's buildup for the 20th Asian Games, where tennis play will swing from September 27 to October 3 in Nagoya, Japan. That schedule runs smack into the WTA 1000 China Open, which is set from Sept. 30 to Oct. 11 in Beijing. Eala will skip the China Open in a bid to win the Asiad gold medal which will give her a qualification path to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. If Eala wins the gold, she only needs to maintain a singles ranking inside the top 500 by the June 2028 deadline. Without a WTA exemption, Eala will suffer a zero-point penalty, a $10,000 (P626,000) fine, and potentially lose year-end bonuses for skipping the China Open which she is contractually obliged to compete in as a top player. The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) requested an exemption from the WTA for Eala to avoid such penalties but there's no word yet on whether it was denied or approved.

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FRESH off a decisive 2-0 win over Hong Kong, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team turns its attention to a crucial group-stage finale against 2022 Asian Games bronze medalist China on September 21 at the Nagaragawa Stadium in Gifu, Japan. Currently sitting second in Group G with four points—tied with China on points and trailing only by two in goal difference—the Filipinas are in a strong position to secure a second consecutive quarterfinals appearance. Having already battled Uzbekistan to a 1-1 draw in their opener and handled business against Hong Kong, the team enters this decisive fixture with strong momentum and high hopes of advancing to the knockout round. Head coach Mark Torcaso remains clear-eyed about the challenge ahead, balancing confidence in his squad’s form with respect for their opponent. Facing a renowned football powerhouse, Torcaso emphasized that the team will enjoy their recent win while preparing meticulously to capture the result they need. His sentiments were echoed by Philippine Football Federation President John Anthony Gutierrez, who commended the team’s relentless fighting spirit and highlighted the crucial dynamic between the team’s emerging talents and its seasoned core. That chemistry will be vital against China. The Filipinas’ recent victory showcased fresh offensive firepower, with Skye Leach scoring her debut international goal in just her second appearance, and Mallie Ramirez doubling the tally off an assist from substitute Megan Murray. At the same time, the squad relies heavily on veteran leadership to keep them grounded. Central midfielder Jackie Sawicki recently celebrated her 50th international cap, joining Carleigh Frilles in reaching the mark, while team captain Hali Long etched her name into history by making her 108th appearance, tying legendary striker Phil Younghusband as the most capped Philippine footballer of all time. With solid defensive structure anchored by goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel and a deep, versatile bench capable of altering match dynamics, the Filipinas are fully prepared to test themselves against one of the continent’s finest teams as they continue their broader march toward the World Cup. “We will enjoy this win, continue our build to the World Cup, and fully respect China and prepare our best accordingly,” Torcaso said. “They are a powerhouse, and we will do our best to get the outcomes we want.”