Gilas Pilipinas to face Macau Black Bears in FIBA Asia Cup sendoff

From the SBP

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has set up an official send-off for Gilas Pilipinas onto their FIBA Asia Cup aspirations.

Taking place on July 28, The Gilas Men will face off against the Macau Black Bears at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum for a friendly.

Tip-off is estimated to be at 730pm.

SBP President Al Panlilio says about the upcoming friendly, "Playing tuneup games before Gilas dives into the FIBA Asia Cup will only help the team out."

He adds, "While the team gets good competition, it’s also an opportunity for our Gilas fans to band together and send their team off before they fly out to Saudi Arabia. It’s a short preparation window as many of our players saw action in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup, which was another reason why the SBP wanted Gilas to have a tuneup game here."

Macau has had previous experience in helping nations with their preparations, having faced off against China last year. 

Founded in 2017 as Chong Son Kung Fu, they made their continental debut in the ASEAN Basketball League, and was one of two new teams in the East Asia Super League this past season. In addition, they are part of roster of sides involved in The Asian Tournament. Their combination of natives, diaspora, and reinforcements under the leadership of Garrett Kelly will provide a good test.

As noted by head coach Tim Cone, "They beat the Chinese national team. They are really strong. They’ve got good imports. It could be a very interesting friendly for us."

The Philippines is hoping to improve its ninth-place finish from the last edition of the FIBA Asia Cup, and will be battling against New Zealand, Chinese-Taipei, and Iraq in first round action at Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Gilas is expected to be in full strength, save for Kai Sotto, who is still recovering from an ACL injury.

Tickets are now available via https://www.ticketnet.com.ph/

EASL reveals makeover for the 2025-26 season

EASL: Your Game

The East Asia Super League tweaked its look for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Considered as arguably the top-flight in continental basketball in Asia, the EASL in its third season under its current iteration thought it was time to show love and appreciation to everyone who made it possible all across the region, from the teams and their fans to the league's partners.

As such, the thrust for this coming campaign centers on it being "Your Game."

Choosing this messaging allows the EASL to emphasize that "every city, every court, every possession is part of that limit-defying experience you share with Asia’s top teams and athletes." As the EASL will not exist without the fans.

The logo redesign and creative shift that has a clean and modern identity that matches the league's momentum and vision, noting the recent gains Asian basketball has made in the global stage.

In addition, "Your Game" provides a messaging towards the youth in the region that "their heroes once stood in where they currently stand, with a ball, a court, and a dream they made their own",  something now in place thanks to the EASL's Future Champions program. 

EASL Creative Manager Hadrein Damalerio shares about the new identity, "We saw an opportunity to create a brand identity that not only stands out but stands for something. It reflects our ambition to build the most elevated basketball platform in Asia. The design bridges our previous typography with added symbolic motion, capturing the rising energy of basketball across Asia and our commitment to push it forward."

Vice President and Head of Marketing Mat Morgan adds, "Your Game’ is more than a campaign, it’s an open invitation. Whether it comes from us, our teams, or the fans, it always says the same thing: this league is for you. It’s personal, it’s cultural, and it’s built to welcome everyone into the story."

The upcoming season sees the league add another team from Japan through its cup champion, as well as an inaugural representative from Mongolia.

TCL set with Olympic Day activations

The court TCL took care of at Araullo High School

In line with Olympic Day, TCL conducted special activities highlighting the values espoused by the Olympic Movement, striving to "Inspire Greatness" in its own unique way to build a better future ahead.

One such activation took place recently at the Araullo High School in Manila, where TCL revitalized the court being used by the school in conjuction with Rain or Shine, who provided the paint to enable the refresh of the facility that has 2,072 square feet outside of the 4,700 square foot that comprises the court.

To highlight the finished product, a TCL Basketball Camp was facilitated through the coordination of Better Basketball PH Skills Camp. Forty youngsters participated in this clinic, with Suwon KT SonicBoom guard JD Cagulangan gracing the occasion. The UP alumnus and the Rookie of the Year for the just-concluded Korean Basketball League season joined in and even shot hoops alongside the participants.

In addition, a coaching principles session was conducted with TCL brand partner Jeffrey Cariaso sharing his basketball expertise towards the PE coaches present. Assisting the Blackwater coach in the discussion is the school's Head Teacher VI, MAPEH Department Mr. Augusto D. Baldoz.

Aside from the on-court activation, TCL and Araullo High School formalized their partnership with a contract signing ceremony, Representing the former are TCL CEO Peter Chen, TCL Deputy Marketing Director Shae Yu, TCL Deputy Product Director of Air Conditioner Bert Cheung, TCL Brand Manager Joseph Cernitchez, together with Rain or Shine Assistant Brand Manager Red Magcase, while Assistant School Principal II Ms. Ebuena P. Alvarez served as the latter's representation.

As part of the partnership, TCL donated PhP 300,000 worth of televisions and air-conditioning units to Araullo High School.

Chen says of the partnership, "We're happy to launch this partnership officially. As we celebrate International Olympic Day and our status as the Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, this basketball clinic perfectly embodies TCL's commitment to ‘Inspire Greatness’ among hopeful kids who aspire to do their best in the field of basketball."

He adds, "Through this endeavor, we aim to impart Olympic values to our Filipinos. We hope our partnership with Araullo High School becomes a hub for more vibrant, engaging activities, inspiring people to connect and celebrate through sports. Here's to more exciting and fulfilling events like this in the future!"

Recently renewing their partnership with the Olympic Movement, securing the title as the official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category, TCL also was honored in special ceremony at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland last June 22, where their name was added onto the Donors' Wall, highlghting their contributions through smart terminals and display solutions, which are set to enhance the development of sports and culture through innovative technology, while also reaffirming the Olympic ethos of "Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together" through its commitment to "Inspire Greatness"

Unveiling the commemorative marble brick are representatives from TCL, including TCL Technology COO Kevin Wang, as well as from the International Olympic Committee, among them being President Thomas Bach and President-elect Kirsty Coventry, as well as Olympic Museum Director Angelita Teo.

TCL officials were also invited to the inauguration of Coventry as the IOC's tenth president the next day, as she became the first female and the first African IOC president. In a way, Coventry's ascent resonates with TCL, as its "TCLforHer" initiative is dedicated towards empowering women globally through technology and culture.

Fresh from the afterglow of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and leading up to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, TCL will remain active in supporting the IOC's initiatives towards advancing the evolution of the Olympic Movement.

Pasig, Victorias named as FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup Philippines 2025 host cities

The two host cities of the FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup Philippines 2025

It was announced on Friday that two cities will be the venues for the upcoming FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025™.

The cities of Pasig in the National Capital Region, and Victorias in Negros Occidental will serve as the Host Cities for the inaugural edition of the competition, set to take place in late November, as revealed by FIFA and the tournament's Local Organizing Committee.

Philippine Football Federation president John Anthony Gutierrez shares, "We are extremely proud of this milestone and we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the local governments of Pasig City and Victorias City for their invaluable support in providing a truly unforgettable experience for the participating teams, the fans and the Filipino community."

On FIFA's end, Director of Tournaments Jaime Yarza says, "We are confident that, in collaboration with both Host Cities, we will deliver a tournament that meets the highest standards in terms of facilities and services and offers the players and fans a top-class experience."

Yarza also adds, "We also aim to leave a tangible legacy within the Philippines, improving the futsal infrastructure in the country – starting in these two cities – and encouraging new players to take up the game."

FIFA representatives made visits to both cities in recent months, checking on the infrastructure, accessibility, and accomodation capacity. With both cities having a track record for successfully hosting both sports and cultural events, making it ideal to host this groundbreaking endeavor.

In addition, the existence of active grassroots programmes in the area proved to be a key element in the selection process, which is in line with FIFA's long-term goals for the development of futsal and the promotion of women's football.

As noted by FIFA Chief Women's Football Officer Dame Sarai Bareman, "World Cups are among the most powerful forces we have to grow our sport, and the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup is another exciting step in that journey. It’s a chance to inspire more girls and women around the world to play futsal."

Competition is set to commence on November 21, with the inaugural champion to be crowned on December 7. The sixteen-team field has already been formalized with the conclusion of the qualifying rounds, with these countries joining the Philippines in the affair: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, IR Iran, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania and Thailand.

Vermosa Green Run cites gains made in sports, animal welfare and environmental sustainability

The Green Run is this coming Sunday

The fourth edition of the Vermosa Green Run is set to gun off on Sunday, June 29 at the 750-hectare Vermosa Estate in Imus, Cavite with the 21K category leading the way at 4:30 a.m,.

Following closely are the 10K category that starts at 5:00 a.m., the 5K and 3K categories at 5:30 a.m. and the 1K Dog Run at 7 a.m. The event is presented by AyalaLand Estates and Vermosa in partnership with Pinoy Fitness.

Four years since its inaugural run in July 2022, the Green Run has made its impact felt in the areas of its advocacies.

Starting off with a focused support of the environment and an advocacy for an active lifestyle in the wake of the pandemic that year, the Green Run chose the Haribon Foundation as its first beneficiary and spearheaded a high-energy return to foot races after a two-year hiatus.

Since then, the multi-level run has been staged yearly, attracting serious, leisure, aspiring and elite runners to the great outdoors of Vermosa Estate. It continues to push for an active lifestyle, the environment and sustainability, and now also champions youth sports and animal welfare. Vermosa Green Run participants have grown steadily each year, with 1,200 runners breaking out in 2022 to nearly 3000 signing up in 2025.

This year, the Green Run is inviting both runners and guests to be actively involved in sustainability by bringing their used plastics to the Run. The plastics will be recycled and converted by Ayala Land Estates, Inc. and the Makati Development Corporation (MDC) into sustainable construction materials like fillers for concrete and asphalt and other concrete aggregates that will build “green” sidewalks and fences in support of Ayala Land’s green development initiatives. Participants that donate will get a discounted rate on their Green Run registration.

The Haribon Foundation continues to be a Green Run beneficiary on its fourth year as Vermosa Estate and Ayala Land sustain the planting and adoption of seedlings and saplings that continue to grow at the Kaliwa River Forest Reserve in Barangay San Andres, Tanay Rizal.

For the third straight year, the Green Run pushes hard for the Pawssion Project, a non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes stray animals. The Green Run continues to create greater awareness about animal welfare as it continues to support dogs in the organization that has to date already made over 2,000 rescues, 1,000 re-homed and provided 600 shelters for homeless dogs and cats.

Its support of young athletes from Takbo Kabitenyo, a non-profit organization for young runners from Cavite, also shows progressive results.

“Some of our young runners have consistently landed podium finishes at school-level, city, and provincial competitions. These achievements are a reflection not only of their talent but also of the discipline and dedication they’ve cultivated through training, and we thank Vermosa for allowing us to use their excellent sports facilities that provide our athletes with the competitive edge,” said Takbo Kabitenyo president Noel Diaz.

Diaz cites the standout stories of Vince John Marzo, a college student who ran with the relay team that won Bronze Medal in the 4x400m event at the 2025 NCAA Season 100 Track and Field Competition, and John Mark Balogo, who may get a spot in the National Track and Field Team after placing second in the 5000m final event within the same NCAA season.

“While most of our success stories are still at the local and regional levels, we’re laying the groundwork for future participation in national and international competitions. We’re excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to help these young talents shine on bigger stages through their training in the best possible environment,” Diaz said.

Century Tuna fetes Mt. Everest summiteer Jeno Panganiban

Jeno Panganiban

Century Tuna officially celebrates the return of mountaineer and Superbod athlete Jeno Panganiban to the Philippines after successfully reaching the top of Mount Everest, the world’s highest summit.

Through a couple of months of relentlessly climbing the unforgiving terrain and enduring the frigid climate of Mount Everest, Jeno has etched his name in Philippine history as the youngest male Filipino who has reached its summit in almost two decades, inspiring a new generation of Filipinos to embrace the challenge of facing their own summit with strength and proper nutrition.

Century Tuna honors his monumental achievement and welcomes Jeno home, shining a spotlight on his triumphant ascent. He embodies strength, endurance, and resilience in his pursuit to reach the summit of the world. 

“When we were approaching the summit, I approached it with pride because by that time, we knew that the whole nation was watching us. And I felt emotional because I was able to carry the Philippine flag to the top of the world,” Jeno shared as he recounted the once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Jeno’s summit to the world’s peak is a testament to years of hard work and dedication to fueling his passion for mountaineering and optimizing his lifestyle. He transitioned from a former software engineer, working a 9-to-5 job, to owning a distribution business, supplying healthy produce to restaurants across Metro Manila, which has given him the flexibility to control his own time. 

When he set his sights to finally achieving his long-time dream of conquering Mount Everest, Jeno knew that it required singular focus and relentless drive. It wasn’t only about rallying together all his previous mountaineering experiences. It was also about actively choosing to go through extreme preparation and intentionally nourishing his body with the right nutrition that can push him to become one of the Philippines’ national prides.

From high altitude sickness, hazardous weather, to the looming threat of avalanches, Jeno persisted through the life-threatening challenges. He endured temperatures reaching below freezing, extreme sun exposure burning, and loss of oxygen as he was reaching the summit while pushing through exhaustion. 

“You have to be comfortable in being uncomfortable,” says Jeno. “So every day, we made sure that our bodies were in the right condition. I made sure my body and mind were ready for the push.”

With Century Tuna as his partner, Jeno was able to bring his A game to his climb. His remarkable resilience to climb to an elevation of 8,849 meters is nourished by his favorite Century Tuna meal, the classic combination of Century Tuna Hot and Spicy with saltine crackers, a comfort food that’s easy to prepare but packed with protein to keep him energized throughout his arduous training and long ascent.

His journey perfectly embodies Century Tuna’s “Fit for Any Role” campaign, highlighting the brand’s celebration of the multi-faceted image of fitness and its part in helping individuals face any role. 

“Century Tuna is proud and honored to support Jeno’s journey because he is a living testament that anyone can face their own summit. He has shown us that through properly nourishing the body and building up strength, everyone can go after their dreams — a pursuit that Century Tuna has always championed. He is an inspiration, not just to his fellow athletes, but to all of us who take on life’s challenges every day,” said Century Pacific Food, Inc. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Greg Banzon.

Century Tuna challenges every Filipino to define their own summit. Whether they want to achieve a fitness milestone, a personal goal, or a monumental accomplishment, being fit with Century Tuna means being ready to take on the challenge.

Jeno Panganiban successfully climbs Mount Everest, returning the Philippine flag to the peak after almost two decades

Jeno Panganiban atop Mt. Everest

Almost two decades after the last Filipino summited Mount Everest, Jeno Panganiban, along with two other mountaineers, has made history, putting the Philippine flag back on top of the world.

A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at De La Salle University, Jeno developed his love for hiking when he was a third-year college student. In 2016, encouraged by friends and classmates who posted their hiking photos on social media, Jeno set out to climb his mother mountain, the first mountain that a hiker summits, Mount Talamitam in Batangas, at 21 years old. 

Nine years later, he is the youngest male Filipino and the 11th Filipino mountaineer to summit Mount Everest.

“It’s not a light undertaking, and it’s not for everyone,” shares Jeno as he recounts the challenges he experienced throughout his climb. For him, preparing for a climb that fewer than 10,000 people on Earth have accomplished requires years of hard work and dedication.

He resigned from his position as a software engineer and started his own distribution business that supplied healthy fruits and vegetables across Metro Manila to fully dedicate himself to his passion. Unbound to the routine schedule of corporate life, Jeno now had more time to pursue the ambitious climbs that few mountaineers could only dream of.

He first visited the Mount Everest Base Camp, the first of the five camps and the lowest elevation camp of the mountain, in 2022, when his aspiration to reach its summit began.

Since then, Jeno has dedicated his training to climbing Mount Everest. His first test that helped him prove his ability to achieve his dream was reaching the top of Mount Manaslu in Nepal, the 8th highest mountain in the world with a peak of 8,163 metres, in September 2024 and two weeks later, climbing a more technical expedition requiring rock climbing, ice climbing, and fixed-line ascent, Mount Ama Dablan in Nepal. 

In April 2025, he returned to Nepal and began his ascent to the world’s highest peak with the full support of his family, loved ones, friends, and Century Tuna, along with Filipinos across the country. 

From Everest’s Base Camp to Camp 4, he encountered numerous life-threatening challenges that tested his physical limitations and mental capacity.

“You have to be comfortable in being uncomfortable,” says Jeno. “So every day, we made sure that our bodies were in the right condition. I made sure my body and mind were ready for the push.”

The first challenge that every Mount Everest summiteer faces is the Khumbu Icefall, a treacherous shifting terrain of seracs (towering ice columns), deep crevasses, and unstable ice blocks that can fall into deep snow cliffs at any time.

As Jeno and his expedition team forged higher up the mountain, they faced increasingly freezing temperatures and high altitudes that pushed their bodies to their limit. With the lack of oxygen from the thin mountain air coupled with raging winds, some mountaineers experienced various combinations of altitude sickness symptoms, including migraines, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and lack of appetite.

Relying on his training, Jeno rallied through these challenges while experiencing snow blindness and intense sun exposure. He recalled powering through losing the feeling of his fingers and toes at various periods during the climb because he was determined to reach the top, a dream that is, finally, within his reach. He did not want his fellow Filipinos to wait another 20 years for the Philippine flag to be raised on the highest global stage. This journey was more than just about reaching the summit, it was about showing every dreamer back home that with courage in the heart and perseverance in the soul, even the impossible can be within reach.

And when he finally stood at the top of the world, that dream took on a breathtaking form, witnessing the astonishing curvature of the Earth was unlike any other experience in his life.

“It’s an incomparable feeling. At first, I didn’t register that I was already there. But when it sunk in, I realized that I was on top of the world. I was higher than any person or any animal in the world,” recalls Jeno.

For most, conquering the summit of Mount Everest would be the end of a lifelong journey, the peak of their mountaineering career. But for Jeno, climbing Everest was a pace setter. He is already planning his next climb. He has set his sights on summiting K2, nicknamed The Savage Mountain for its extreme climbing difficulty and dangerous conditions, located on the border between Pakistan and China. Eventually, he plans to finish climbing the 14 mountains on Earth with peaks above 8,000 meters, known as the “8,000-meter peaks.”

Jeno has more summits to conquer and he hopes that someday he can pass on the lessons he learned along his climbs to the next generation of Filipino mountaineers who will continue to wave the Philippine flag on top of the world.