Buoyed by PH fans, Leylah Fernandez wins Singapore Open debut

Inquirer.net - Sep 21, 2026

SINGAPORE–Sixth seed Leylah Fernandez scraped past Japanese qualifier Kyoka Okamura, 6-2, 5-3, to reach the second round of the Singapore Open on Monday night at OCBC Arena. The Canadian-Filipino needed to overcome a gutsy performance by Okamura, who’s ranked 307th. “I’m just glad to be playing in front of you guys, the Singaporean fans, [and]

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Young swimmers like China's Yu good for the sport, says Haughey
Sep 21, 2026

Young swimmers like China's Yu good for the sport, says Haughey

The rise of China's teenage sensation Yu Zidi is emblematic of an exciting trend where younger swimmers are breaking through at the highest level, four-time Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey said on Monday.

Carlos, Eldrew Yulo lead PH gymnasts into Asian Games medal rounds
Sep 21, 2026

Carlos, Eldrew Yulo lead PH gymnasts into Asian Games medal rounds

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines — Two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo advanced to three apparatus finals–floor exercise, parallel bars and vault–and the team event in the 2026 Asian Games men’s artistic gymnastics competition despite a shaky qualification round Monday. His younger brother, Karl Eldrew, meanwhile,

Team Philippines at 2026 Asian Games: September 22 schedule -- Jean Claude Saclag, Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3, PMNFT U23, other sports
Sep 21, 2026

Team Philippines at 2026 Asian Games: September 22 schedule -- Jean Claude Saclag, Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3, PMNFT U23, other sports

The Philippines will officially secure its third medal in the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday as MMA"s Jean Claude Saclag battles in the men"s traditional -65kg final.

Asian Games: Kayla Sanchez breaks PH record twice but misses podium
Sep 21, 2026

Asian Games: Kayla Sanchez breaks PH record twice but misses podium

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines—Kayla Sanchez reset the national swimming record twice in the Asian Games 2026 women’s 50-meter backstroke, but it wasn’t enough to reach the podium Monday at Tokyo Aquatics Center. Sanchez settled for fifth in her pet event despite setting a new Philippine

WNBA: Olivia Miles breaks Caitlin Clark’s rookie points record
Sep 21, 2026

WNBA: Olivia Miles breaks Caitlin Clark’s rookie points record

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut — Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark’s WNBA record for points by a rookie in a season on Sunday in the Minnesota Lynx’s 101-89 victory over the Connecticut Sun. Miles, who finished with 21 points, was tied with Clark at 769 points coming into the game and moved atop the list when she made

Asian Games: PH’s Jones Inso finishes sixth in wushu final
Sep 21, 2026

Asian Games: PH’s Jones Inso finishes sixth in wushu final

MANILA, Philippines —  Jones Llabares Inso settled for sixth place in the men’s taijiquan and taijijian final, as the medal remained elusive for the Philippine wushu team in the Asian Games. Inso garnered a total score of 19.403 in two events, as China’s Dewen Liu got the gold as the runaway winner with 19.560 points.

LIST: Philippines' 2026 Asian Games Medalists
Sep 21, 2026

LIST: Philippines' 2026 Asian Games Medalists

LIST: See the Philippines" medalists at the 2026 Asian Games, including its bronze medalists and athletes assured of medals.

WNBA: Breanna Stewart climbs to 8th on WNBA scoring list
Sep 21, 2026

WNBA: Breanna Stewart climbs to 8th on WNBA scoring list

TORONTO — Breanna Stewart scored 27 points to help the New York Liberty rout the Toronto Tempo 106-69 on Sunday and stay in the hunt for home-court in the opening round of the playoffs. New York (26-16) could finish anywhere from fourth to eighth in the playoff standings with two games remaining. The Liberty host

Ogwumike becomes 4th player in WNBA history with 8,000 points
Sep 21, 2026

Ogwumike becomes 4th player in WNBA history with 8,000 points

LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Portland Fire 105-84 on Sunday night. Ogwumike became the fourth player in WNBA history to reach 8,000 points, joining Diana Taurasi (10,646), Tina Charles (8,396) and DeWanna Bonner (8,217). The 2016 WNBA MVP has

WNBA: A’ja Wilson scores 30 points, Aces beat Storm
Sep 21, 2026

WNBA: A’ja Wilson scores 30 points, Aces beat Storm

LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson scored 30 points to help the Las Vegas Aces beat the Seattle Storm 98-77 on Sunday night. The four-time WNBA MVP made 16 of 18 free throws and had her 49th career 30-point game, second-most in history (Diana Taurasi, 54). The Aces (29-13) have won five in a row and

Saclag enters MMA finals, eyes PH’s first Asiad gold
Sep 21, 2026

Saclag enters MMA finals, eyes PH’s first Asiad gold

JEAN Claude Saclag got himself and the Philippines a shot at a gold medal after advancing to the 20th Asian Games mixed martial arts men's traditional -65kg final at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center in Japan on Monday. Saclag topped home bet Daisuke Murayama, 3-0, in the semifinals to secure at least a silver medal in MMA's debut in the Asiad. The Filipino bet faces Otabek Rajabov of Tajikistan in the final on Tuesday at 1:20 p.m. in Manila. "I'm used to competing in the finals but I'm more inspired because Asian Games is different," said Saclag in an interview with One Sports. "I need to hit him (Rajabov) while also maintaining my distance and keeping him from doing his takedowns because he's good at it. If we could do that, then we'll going to win," added Saclag, who also fights in ONE FC. The 31-year-old Saclag first defeated Saud Fawaz Almolhem, 3-0, in the quarterfinals. Saclag's teammate Carlos Alvarez settled for a bronze medal finish after falling to Yerkingali Burkutalin of Kazakhstan in the men's traditional -77kg semifinals, 0-3. At press time, the Philippines collected two medals through two days of competition with the first being a bronze also from the Philippine women's soft tennis team. Over at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, 2-time Olympic swimmer Kayla Sanchez established a national record of 28.24 seconds to finish fourth in the preliminaries and advance to the women's 50-m backstroke final. Sanchez bested her previous national mark of 28.47 seconds she posted at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok last December. Sanchez's teammate Teia Salvino also reached the 50-m backstroke final as the 10th placer with 29.14 seconds in the preliminary round. Xiandi Chua likewise made the final in the women's 200-m individual medley, clocking 2:16.24 in the preliminaries. Meanwhile, Yulo brothers Carlos and Eldrew finished first and second in the men's artistic gymnastics individual all-around subdivision 1 at the Nagoya City General Gymnasium Rainbow Hall. Gymnasts in subdivision 2 were still performing at press time. A 2-time Olympic champ, Carlos posted a total of 77.264 points while Eldrew logged 75.465 in the individual all-around that doubles as qualification to individual apparatus. The top eight in each apparatus advance to the final with a limit to two gymnasts per country. "Caloy" anchored his performance with his specialty, scoring 14.300 in vault and and 13.966 in floor exercise — the same events he ruled at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Caloy logged 11.733 points in pommel horse, 11.666 in rings, 12.166 in parallel bars, and 13.433 in horizontal bar. Eldrew unleashed a 14.600 performance in floor exercise while amassing 8.233 in pommel horse, 13.500 in rings, 13.166 in vault, 14.266 in parallel bars, and 11.700 in horizontal bar. In 3x3 basketball, the Philippines opened its campaign with a 19-12 win over Mongolia in Pool A. The Filipinos likewise emerged triumphant in men's baseball, opening their campaign with a 12-0 shutout of Palestine.

Tabanas carries PH youth to Taiwan
Sep 21, 2026

Tabanas carries PH youth to Taiwan

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Isabella Tabanas gets her first taste of professional golf when she joins fellow ICTSI-backed amateurs Lisa and Mona Sarines in the Kenda Tire Cup, which gets under way Wednesday at the Taichung International Country Club in Taichung, Taiwan. The NT$4-million championship, the 16th leg of the LPGA of Taiwan Tour, is co-sanctioned by the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and brings together the leading players from the LPGT and a strong international field. For Tabanas, however, the 54-hole event represents more than just another tournament — it marks her maiden appearance on the TLPGA, giving the promising Cagayan de Oro junior an early opportunity to test her game against seasoned professionals and top amateurs from across Asia. Tabanas, who has committed to play collegiate golf for Texas A&M University-Kingsville, is the latest addition to ICTSI’s growing stable of young players being given assistance and international exposure as part of a long-term program aimed at developing golfers capable of competing on the world stage. She will be joined by the Sarines twins, Lisa and Mona, who are also regarded as among the promising young talents in Philippine golf. The sisters have made early strides as junior golfers, gaining valuable experience in local and international competitions and steadily building the credentials that have marked them as potential future players on the LPGT. The three youngsters will have plenty to learn from the seasoned Filipina pros in the field, led by ICTSI-backed Yvon Bisera and Princess Superal, and Harmie Constantino, while also getting a firsthand look at the level required to compete successfully on the professional circuit. Kiara Montebon, 20, is also on the ICTSI roster. An incoming Biology junior, she competes for Chicago State University in US NCAA Division I. Tabanas hails from Cagayan de Oro and regularly plays at Del Monte Golf Club and Pueblo de Oro. She has competed in several tournaments in the United States since 2023 and continued her rise with a successful campaign in the FCG Collegiate Series Spring Classic at Pala Mesa Resort in Fallbrook, California last April. She heads into her first TLPGA tournament with enthusiasm and a clear development goal, hoping to sharpen her short game and improve her recovery shots around the green. Her presence, together with that of the Sarines twins, underscores the continuing push to give the country’s next generation of golfers meaningful exposure beyond junior competition.

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