Pinoy wrestlers get shutout in Asiad wrestling

Filipino wrestlers Joe Fer Callado and Jason Baucas suffered defeats in their respective bouts Thursday at the 20th Asian Games at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center.

Callado was defeated by Uzbekistan’s Alisher Ganiev, 9-0, in the Men’s Greco-Roman 60kg.

While Baucas fell to Indonesia’s Andika Sulaeman by the same score in Men’s Greco-Roman 77kg.

Neither Filipino was able to put a point on the board, allowing their respective opponents to secure victories by technical superiority.

Callado and Baucas are supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Yape doubles medal haul for Philippine taekwondo

Candelaria and Yape via POC/PSC Media

One more medal for poomsae.

Jeus Yape captured the bronze medal in the men’s individual poomsae competition Thursday at Toyohashi Gymnasium, adding another medal to the Philippines’ haul in the event.

Just hours after Juliana Candelaria claimed silver in the women’s individual event, Yape delivered a score of 9.0900 to secure third place.

“I’m happy po with my performance. Ginawa ko po ‘yung best ko, ginawa ko po lahat ng makakaya ko,” Yape said in an interview with One Sports.

South Korea’s Yun Kyusung topped the field with a score of 9.3800, while Thailand’s Navin Pinthasute took silver with 9.2800.

Coach Jeordan Domingez credited Yape for overcoming the pressure that comes with competing on the Asian stage.

“I’m so happy for him. I know the feeling because we also competed in this competition before, and I’m very happy and proud of Jeus, together with Mika, because they conquered that fear [of pressure],” Domingez said.

Yape, meanwhile, vowed to build on his performance as he looks ahead to his upcoming competitions.

“Right now I’m happy sa journey ko po, and I’ll just keep moving forward,” he said.

Yape will switch to VR mode as he sees action in virtual taekwondo round of 16 on Friday, 10am (Manila time).

Taekwondo, supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, now has two medals courtesy of poomsae.

Paalam goes for gold

c/o POC/PSC Media

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam gets his chance to end a 16-year Philippine boxing gold drought when he takes on Japan’s 22-year-old hometown favorite Rui Yamaguchi in the men’s 55kg final of the 20th Asian Games on Friday at Nishio Gymnasium.

The 28-year-old Paalam punched his ticket to the gold-medal bout after surviving Kazakhstan’s reigning world champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan via a 3-2 split decision on Wednesday, assuring the Philippines of at least a silver medal.

Now, Paalam faces a different challenge in Yamaguchi, a young Japanese fighter carrying the boxing hopes of his nation.

A victory by Paalam in the 12:15 p.m. bout (Philippine time) would give the Philippines its first Asian Games boxing gold since Rey Saludar ruled the 52kg division at the 2010 Guangzhou Games. It would also give Paalam his first Asian Games silver or gold after bagging bronze in Jakarta in 2018 and falling short in the quarterfinals at Hangzhou in 2023.

“Hindi mo masasabi ang puwedeng mangyari sa ring, basta ilalabas ko ang best ko,” Paalam said after his gritty victory in the semifinals against Sabyrkhan, whom he had previously beaten in the 2022 Asian Elite Boxing Championships.

But the Japanese won’t be a pushover.

Yamaguchi switched from kickboxing to boxing during middle school and developed into a highly regarded Japanese amateur. He won Japan’s national championship at 51kg in 2024, before moving up to 55kg with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in mind.

Yamaguchi has already accumulated significant international experience despite his age, having fought in the 2025 World Boxing Championships and is the reigning 2026 Asian champion at 55kg.

His run to the championship bout has been nothing short of spectacular, with victories Kyrgyzstan’s Zafarbek Shakirzhanovich, Jordan's Huthaifa Eshish and Mongolia's Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu, all coming via the 5-0 verdict.

“Carlo’s Japanese opponent is currently ranked no. 2 in the world and has the height and reach advantage. Carlo is more experienced and has the speed advantage. Just really depends on who will be able to execute the competition plan,” said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Marcus Manalo. “But I’m sure Carlo will be up to the challenge.”

Candelaria secures silver in Asiad poomsae

Making her Asian Games debut at 18 years old, Juliana Candelaria delivered a silver-medal performance in the women’s individual poomsae competition Thursday at the Toyohashi Gymnasium.

Candelaria scored 9.1300 in the gold-medal contest to finish second behind South Korea’s Jung Haeun, who took the gold with 9.3100. Thailand’s Thitaree Kaewolanwasu claimed the bronze with 9.0400.

She earned a 9.200 score in her recognized poomsae routine before posting 9.060 in the freestyle round.

“Amazing. I feel great about everything,” Candelaria told One Sports. “It’s such an amazing achievement for me. It’s my first Asian Games.”

“Super duper thankful to everyone. My family, my coaches, my teammates,” she added.

Coach Rani Ortega credited the team’s collective effort for Candelaria’s podium finish, which gave the Philippines its fifth silver medal of the Asian Games.

Candelaria joins Jean Claude Saclag (MMA), Marie June Adriano (karate), the Philippine women’s sepak takraw team, and Amaya Amparo Cojuangco (archery) as the country’s other silver medalists.

“Ang mati-take ko [na lesson] here is live in the moment, kasi what I did in this competition is to enjoy and just be grateful for everything,” Candelaria said.

“Hard work really pays off, with the trust and teamwork of all of us, kaya talaga. Kaya,” Ortega adds.

POC optimistic in surpassing Hangzhou haul at Aichi-Nagoya

Bambol with EJ c/o POC/PSC media

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino remains optimistic that Team Philippines can surpass its four-gold mark as the 20th Asian Games heads into its final three days.

Speaking with reporters as the continental showpiece approached its homestretch, Tolentino expressed firm belief that the Filipino delegation still has several strong medal opportunities left across various disciplines.

“May tatlong simba up to Sunday morning. Last 3 days, still hoping for more golds,” Tolentino said. 

“Siguro naman sure na malalampasan ‘yung apat,” said the POC chief, referring to the four golds that the country won in Hangzhou three years ago, courtesy of pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, jiu-jitsu warriors Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez, and Gilas Pilipinas.

The Philippines' gold medal count in Nagoya stands at three, two from double-Olympic champion Carlos Yulo (men's floor exercise and vault) and pole vault star EJ Obiena.

Tolentino acknowledged that while the delegation suffered unexpected early heartbreaks, most notably the early exit of the Sibol Mobile Legends squad and MMA artist Jean Claude Saclag, other sports remain well in contention to step up.   

“Ganu’n talaga. May napipitas, may pumapalit. God willing, mayroon pa pagkukunan,” Tolentino said.

Outlining the sports where Team Philippines could potentially make a late surge, Tolentino pointed to key events in tennis, boxing, martial arts, beach volleyball, padel, golf, and team sports.

“Of course, Alex [Eala]. Boxing, Carlo Paalam. Judo. Malakas nga lang ‘yung first event ngayon. What else? Jiu-jitsu. Hopefully dalawa, so apat na ‘yun. Hindi ko alam dynamics ng softball. Pumasok pa ang padel, so lima. Meron pa ‘yan,” he said.

He also expressed confidence in the golf contingent, led by Bianca Pagdanganan and Rianne Malixi. 

With time running out before the games officially wrap up on Sunday, the POC chief called on the nation to rally behind the remaining Filipino athletes competing for podium finishes.

“God willing. Lahat tayo mga kababayan, let's pray for our athletes at Team Philippines. Lahat na mga nagka-qualify pa. Kaya sure na malalampasan natin ‘yung 4, hopefully,” said Tolentino.

PATAFA sees optimism after three-medal Asiad

c/o POC/PSC Media

More than the medals the national track and field team delivered, the 20th Asian Games proclaimed with unmistakable force the dawn of a new era in Philippine athletics.

At the center of this resurgence stands Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Terry Capistrano, whose leadership, vision, and relentless push for excellence have transformed a once‑quiet program into one of the nation’s most dynamic sporting forces.

For the first time since Lydia de Vega’s 1986 gold medal in the 100m and silver in the 200m, the Philippines returned to the Asian Games track podium, not once, but twice. And for Capistrano, the breakthrough is only the beginning.

“The future is bright. We have quite a number of athletes who have shown their might,” said Capistrano said, reflecting on the team’s performance. ``You now have a team that you can seriously say has stepped up to another level.”

Across a week of fierce competition, the national team, whose participation is also supported by ICTSI and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, pieced together a three‑medal performance that signaled both progress and promise in succeeding top-tier competitions.

EJ Obiena soared to pole vault gold, reaffirming his dominance in Asia in another record-breaking feat. John Cabang Tolentino battled through rain and injury to seize bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles.

And in the women’s 800m, Victoria Bossong delivered a breakout run, claiming bronze in her Asian Games debut.

“Terry Capistrano is God’s gift to Philippine athletics. You will rarely see a sports leader who has the resources, management expertise, passion to excel and precious time for his athletes and association,” said Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio.

“He’s also gifted with vision, great PR, personality and sense of humor and knows how to celebrate. Thank you, president Terry. Mabuhay ang Philippine athletics,” added the PSC chief.

It was a haul that marked the rebirth of a program ready to contend with the continent’s best.

“We’ve been concentrating on EJ the previous years, now we also concentrate on these two (Cabang Tolentino and Bossong). We’ll build a team around them,’’ said Capistrano.

``Now, we’ll try to have a team around each of these players. We have to do this full time. At least 50 percent of their time devoted for training. We need physiotherapists and therapists, and a psychologist if necessary,” said Capistrano.

He also highlighted the rising potential of Yacine Guermali, whose performance in the 5000m showed that the Philippines now has depth in events once dominated by regional powerhouses.

“I think with Bossong, Cabang and Yacine, we have a pretty formidable team plus of course EJ. If we talk about the SEA Games, we’ll be fine and we’ll be competitive in other bigger tournaments as well,’’ said Capistrano.

Gilas 3x3 stalwarts anchor FEU in season opener

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 89 Women’s Basketball Standings
Team W-L
UST 1-0
NU 1-0
UP 1-0
FEU 1-0
DLSU 0-1
Ateneo 0-1
AdU 0-1
UE 0-1

Games on Saturday at the Philsports Arena
10 a.m. - UST vs AdU (Women)
12 p.m. - NU vs Ateneo (Women)
3 p.m. - UST vs AdU (Men)
5:30 p.m. - NU vs Ateneo (Men)

Far Eastern University outlasted De La Salle University, 76-71, to open its UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament campaign on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws made an early statement that they can contend for a Final Four spot, with Asian Games campaigners Amyah Espanol and Victoria Pasilang leading the way.

A silver medalist in 3x3 at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Espanol delivered a near triple-double performance for FEU with 18 points, nine steals, and eight rebounds while finishing with a plus-16 rating in 31 minutes and 29 seconds on the floor.

Her 3x3 teammate, Pasilang, also came up big with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Despite the impressive season opener, third-year head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy remained discontented despite the victory.

“I’m not surprised with the way these two (Espanol and Pasilang) played but like I said, our standards were not yet there. We are happy but we are not contented in this game,” said Palmera-Dy.

With FEU ahead by just four points with less than four minutes remaining, Pasilang, Espanol, and Elaine Patio sparked a 7-2 blitz to give the Lady Tamaraws a 76-67 lead with 1:12 left to play.

That proved to be enough as the Lady Archers could only muster four more points the rest of the way, allowing FEU to secure the victory.

“It’s our goal this year, be in the Final Four and push to the Finals. I think we really have a good chance, we have a very promising team this year,” said Espanol.

MJ Manguiat also delivered for FEU with 17 points, four assists, and four steals, while Patio added 12 points despite shooting just 4-of-14 from the field.

Kyla Go led La Salle with 19 points, although 14 of her points came from the free-throw line, where she shot a perfect 14-of-14. She struggled from the field, however, making just 2-of-12 attempts.

Nigerian center Favour Ojo also had an impressive debut for the Lady Archers, recording 17 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals.

Both teams will return to action on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, with La Salle facing the University of the East at 10 a.m., followed by FEU’s clash with the University of the Philippines at 12 p.m.

The Scores:

FEU (76) – Espanol 18, Manguiat 17, Pasilang 15, Patio 12, Salvani 8, Lopez 6, Dela Torre 0, Agcambot 0, Kant 0, Gavaran 0.

DLSU (71) – Go 19, Ojo 17, Dueñas 9, Sunga 6, A. Dizon 6, Anastacio 5, S. Dizon 4, Villarin 3, Delos Reyes 2, Lubrico 0, Araza 0.

Quarterscores: 21-18, 37-39, 56-55, 76-71.