Schroth brace anchors Ateneo victory in UAAP Women's Football

c/o UAAP Media

Women's Football Matches on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium
2 p.m. – FEU vs ATENEO
4:30 p.m. – UST vs DLSU
7 p.m. – NU vs UP


Soleil Schroth scored twice as Ateneo de Manila University slipped past a shorthanded University of the Philippines side, 2-1, to return to the winning column in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.

The 25-year-old defender powered the Blue Eagles to a bounce-back victory following their defeat to De La Salle University last Sunday, finding the back of the net in the 25th and 38th minutes.

UP pulled one back in the 35th minute after a costly mistake by Ateneo goalkeeper Brielle Baca gifted Erissa Rivas a goal for the Fighting Maroons, cutting the deficit to one.

Schroth restored Ateneo’s two-goal cushion just three minutes later, as the Blue Eagles held on for the victory.

"What I told them was not to be too complacent, put pressure, and don't give second chances. I told Soleil, if you can contribute something to the team, make it count, so I guess she responded to that call," shared coach Bob Manlulo.

The victory moved the Blue Eagles to third in the standings with six points and a minus-one goal difference as of writing.

Ateneo will look to build on the victory when it faces defending champion Far Eastern University on Sunday, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at the same venue.

Despite missing key players Bem Aranas and starting goalkeeper Mariel Sancho, who were suspended following a red card and an altercation in their previous match against FEU, the Fighting Maroons remained competitive but failed to find an equalizer against Ateneo.

Rivas nearly leveled the match in the 86th minute when she tried to capitalize on a set piece, but Baca comfortably fended off the attempt.

UP remained in fifth place in the standings and will look to claim its first three points of the season when it faces National University in the final match of Sunday’s triple-header.

UST sends UE to 24th straight UAAP Men's Basketball defeat

c/o UAAP Media Team

University of Santo Tomas weathered University of the East’s late charge, 98-87, for its second straight win in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

Ahead by just five points after the opening quarter, UST turned on the jets in the second, outscoring UE, 28-14, to establish a 52-33 lead at halftime.

However, the Red Warriors refused to fold, pulling within six at the 6:06 mark of the fourth quarter after back-to-back layups by Cole Cruz-Dumont made it 83-77.

That, however, would be the closest UE could get.

Landyn Jumawan, Mark Llemit, and Collins Akowe provided the answers for UST as the Growling Tigers kept the Red Warriors at bay down the stretch.

“Marunong din naman mag-basketball ‘yung kalaban eh. 0-3, new coach, pero syempre ‘yung mga players gusto rin magpasikat niyan para sa bago nilang coach. Nung second half nakuha nila ‘yung momentum pero kami at least steady, in the end we got the win. As long as we get that W, one, two, three points, basta manalo ok lang,” said UST head coach Pido Jarencio.

The Growling Tigers joined a crowded leaderboard alongside the idle National University Bulldogs, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, and Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, all at 2-1.

Llemit spearheaded UST with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block, while Amiel Acido backed him with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal.

Akowe, despite going scoreless from the field in the first half, still finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocks, while Jumawan added 13 points, including three triples.

Koji Buenaflor, fresh from his Asian Games stint with Gilas 3x3, chipped in eight points in 15 minutes of action.

UST will seek its third straight victory on Saturday when it squares off against Adamson University at 3 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The Growling Tigers lost twice to the Falcons last season.

The Red Warriors, meanwhile, slipped to 0-4 this season and absorbed their 24th straight loss dating back to Season 87.

Tope Lagat led UE with 22 points, while Mo Tañedo added 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

Cruz-Dumont contributed 12 points, while Gene Carillo stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, and three blocks.

UE will continue its pursuit of its elusive first win on Sunday against De La Salle University at the Philsports Arena.

The Scores:

UST (98) – Llemit 22, Acido 16, Akowe 14, Junawan 13, Buenaflor 8, Chio 6, Cañete 5, Danting 4, Esteban 3, Manding 3, Porter 2, Bucsit 2, Alao 0, J. Sevilla 0.

UE (87) – Lagat 22, Tañedo 16, Cruz-Dumont 12, Carillo 10, Robles 7, Edoukou 4, Santos 4, Jimenez 4, Sabroso 3, Vazquez 3, Mascarinas 2, Dungca 0.

Quarterscores: 24-19, 52-33, 75-61, 98-87.

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.

ML:BB stunner ends SIBOL's Asiad participation

Sibol’s 20th Asian Games campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday after a stunning quarterfinal loss to regional rival Indonesia in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports event at Aichi Sky Expo Hall.

The Philippines, represented by the core of three-time MPL Philippines champion Team Liquid, was off to a rough start as Indonesia’s aggressive start repeatedly disrupted Sibol’s plans throughout the series.

“Sobrang dami naming errors and tingin ko hindi namin nalaro ‘yung laro talaga namin. Hindi ko expect na matatalo kami,” said Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno.

The Philippines endured a rough start as Indonesia seized Game 1, 22-19.

Sibol, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, countered and evened the best-of-three series, 14-5, in Game 2.

But Sibol failed to find its footing in Game 3, as the Indonesians took control and closed out the match, 12-6.

Composing the MLBB squad are Nepomuceno, Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya, Alston “Sanji” Pabico, Jaypee “Jaypee” Dela Cruz, Dave “Teddy” Viana, and Duane “Kelra” Pillas.

Earlier in the day, Sibol’s Identity V squad also saw its Asian Games bid end also in a 0-2 quarterfinals loss to Malaysia.

The losses marked the end of Sibol’s campaign in the Asian Games, with the Philippines’ esports delegation delivering bronze medals in both Honor of Kings and Pokémon UNITE.

Hoop Collective set for Manila leg via Disney+ Philippines

Hoop Collective in Manila

ESPN NBA insiders Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon are coming to the Philippines for the Manila leg of The Hoop Collective World Tour on October 5, 2026. Their Manila visit features a special live podcast recording of The Hoop Collective with Disney+ and a chance to interact with Filipino NBA fans.

Marking the start of the new NBA season on Disney+, the event puts fans at the heart of The Plus Side of Basketball - celebrating not just the action on the court, but the conversations, insights and shared experiences that make basketball a community.

Limited slots are available for The Hoop Collective live podcast recording. To be part of the selected audience, fans can pre-register via this link: https://bit.ly/HoopCollectiveWorldTourManila.

Stream the 2026–2027 NBA Tip-Off on Disney+ Philippines starting October 22. For the full NBA on Disney+ game schedule and updates, visit www.disney.ph/NBA.

Pagdulagan stars in first game back for NU season opener

c/o UAAP Media

Cielo Pagdulagan marked her triumphant return to National University as the Lady Bulldogs drubbed Adamson University, 71-51, in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Aside from beginning their road to redemption following last year’s Finals loss, the Lady Bulldogs also welcomed back their Season 87 Rookie of the Year and Finals MVP.

“Sobrang laking bagay si Cielo. We’re so happy that she’s finally back and playing. Very happy kami first of all na healthy na siya and now very thankful kami na she’s fit to play,” said second-year NU head coach DA Olan.

Pagdulagan missed last season due to illness as the Lady Bulldogs settled for the silver medal after bowing to the UST Growling Tigresses.

In her return to NU, the 22-year-old guard finished with a game-high 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting.

“Last year po kasi, sobrang nalungkot ako,” she said. “Mahirap manood lang habang nakikita mo yung teammates mo na lumalaban.”

The Lady Bulldogs recovered from a slow start, drilling three straight triples to build their first double-digit lead, 23-12, with 6:37 left in the second quarter.

NU led by as many as 22 points, but Adamson mounted a comeback in the third quarter.

The Lady Falcons’ defensive intensity limited the Lady Bulldogs to just five points in the first 5:22 of the second half, allowing Adamson to cut the deficit to 12, 46-34.

NU quickly regained its composure in the final period and preserved its double-digit advantage, with Pagdulagan’s layup helping put the game away for the Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Falcons were held to just four points in the final four minutes of the contest.

Marga Villanueva added 14 points, while Aloha Betanio contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals for NU.

The Lady Bulldogs capitalized on Adamson’s 18 turnovers, converting them into 17 points. NU’s bench also outscored Adamson’s, 19-2.

Cheska Apag paced Adamson with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Elaine Etang also scored 11 points, while Kemi Adeshina posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Falcons will next face the University of Santo Tomas on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10:00 a.m., while the Lady Bulldogs will take on Ateneo de Manila University on the same day at 12:00 p.m.

Both games will be held at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The Scores:

NU 71 - Pagdulagan 17, Villanueva 14, Betanio 10, Lapasaran 7, Rosano 6, Cayabyab 2, Alba 2, Alterado 0, Garcia 0, Ico 0.

AdU 51 - Apag 11, Etang 11, Adeshina 10, Burgos 7, Limbago 4, Meniano 4, Munoz 2, Mazo 2, Bajo 0, Medina 0, Manlimos 0, Carcallas 0, Alaba 0, Villaester 0, Tano 0.

Quarterscores: 12-8, 40-20, 50-36, 71-51.

SIBOL now in last eight of Asiad ML:BB, Identity V

SIBOL swept its group stage campaign to advance to the quarterfinals of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports event in the 20th Asian Games on Tuesday at Aichi Sky Expo Hall.

The Philippines defeated Jordan, 2-0, early in the day, and shocked Kazakhstan, 2-0, later in the evening.

“Masaya po, pero ’di pa rin kami magpapakampante kasi ’yung next namin na makakalaban is Indonesia, kaya need talaga namin mas galingan pa,” said Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno.

Sibol, which holds a perfect record (2-0) to top Pool C, will face rival Indonesia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at 11:50am (Manila time).

Earlier in the day, Sibol bounced back from back-to-back losses to take down Indonesia, 2-1, and advance to the quarterfinals of the Identity V esports event.

After losing Game 1, 3-5, the Philippines made the necessary adjustments and regrouped just in time to pull off a, 5-3, victory in Game 2 and, 7-2 win in Game 3.

Sibol finished third in Pool A and will take on Pool B top seed Malaysia in the quarterfinals.

Alas Pilipinas Men go winless in Asiad volleyball pool play

The Alas Pilipinas Men closed pool campaign in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games with a 25-21, 20-25, 17-25, 27-29 loss to Chinese Taipei on Tuesday at the Okazaki Central Park Gymnasium.

It wasn’t the way the Alas Men wanted their campaign to be in the Asian Games.

“We performed good enough in the first set, I saw the eagerness and the will to win from my teammates,” team captain Bryan Bagunas said. “But when it comes to crucial points, how to deal with them, that’s where we lose our composure.”

Bagunas had 17 points and Joshua Magalaman 16 points for Alas Men in the one hour and 52-minute battle that sent the Filipinos to the classification round where they could finish at the best at ninth place like their women counterparts.

Summing up their performance in group play, Bagunas said they have what it takes to compete at a high level in the Asian Games.

“Our first two opponents are strong but the level of their game is not that high,” he said.

“We’re so close to what they can do on the court.”

For Bagunas, the priority is to carry the lessons from the pool stage into their remaining matches.

“We’re hoping to lessen our errors so we could snatch victories in the classification round,” he said.

Bullpups win streak now at 22 at JHS

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 89 Boys’ 16U Basketball Standings

NUNS 6-0
DLSZ 4-2
UE 4-2
FEU-D 4-2
UST 3-3
UPIS 2-4
AdU 1-5
Ateneo 0-6

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

8 a.m. - NU vs. AdU (Women)
10 a.m. - Ateneo vs. UP (Women)
12 p.m. - FEU vs. DLSU (Women)
3 p.m. - UST vs. UE (Men)
5:30 p.m. - FEU vs. DLSU (Men)

Defending champion National University Nazareth School overwhelmed Adamson University, 107-73, to keep its spotless record intact in the UAAP Season 89 16-and-under basketball tournament on Tuesday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

It was the Bullpups’ sixth straight win of the season and their 22nd consecutive victory dating back to last year.

Andrie Lopez, a 5-foot-10 forward from Tagum City, set a new season-high with 30 points on 14-for-23 shooting from the field. The Tagum City native also came up with an equally impressive defensive feat, recording eight steals in the contest.

“Happy po ako kasi ngayon lang po ako nakapaglaro sa UAAP at nakuha ko ‘yung puntos na ganyang kalaki,” Lopez said.

Jessy Arellano also delivered a solid performance for the Bullpups with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Kobe Genido finished with 15 points and seven assists.

Aaron Dalanan and Martin Macoy rounded out NUNS’ double-digit scorers with 10 points apiece.

NUNS led by as many as 43 points, 102-59, in the fourth quarter.

The Bullpups scored 47 points off the Baby Falcons’ 36 turnovers, while their defense limited Adamson to 27 fewer field-goal attempts than NUNS.

After building a 21-point lead in the second quarter, the Bullpups remained relentless and poured in 30 points in the third period alone.

Earlier, De La Salle Zobel came away with a statement win over the University of the East, 68-54.

Fresh from an 86-57 home victory over the UPIS Junior Fighting Maroons last Saturday, the Junior Archers continued their upward climb.

“We lost two in a row, so I think that game against UP on our home court was a good way to gain our momentum back and to work better as a team,” said Rye Villaruz.

DLSZ improved to 4-2, forcing a three-way tie with UE and the FEU-D Baby Tamaraws for second place in the standings.

Enzo Purugganan led La Salle with a game-high 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

“In the first half, I felt like we were still trying to get our rhythm. In the second half, I knew that I needed to go all out so we could get the win,” added Villaruz, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half.

The Junior Archers pulled away in the third quarter, taking a 13-point lead into the final period, 59-46, with Purugganan and Villaruz powering the surge.

UE was held to single-digit scoring in the third quarter as La Salle stretched its advantage.

The Junior Red Warriors went 0-for-20 from three-point range, becoming the first team this season to go scoreless from beyond the arc.

La Salle also held UE to its lowest scoring output of the season.

Austin Delos Santos was notably brought out of the game on a stretcher following an apparent back injury after colliding with an opponent while diving for the ball with 3:48 left in the first quarter.

Adamson slipped to seventh in the standings with a 1-5 record.

Jaden Roxas paced UE with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Kurt Mercado added 12 points in the loss.

Four Baby Falcons finished in double figures, led by Kobe Edrada with 19 points. Zach Caintic and Henri Subido chipped in 12 points each, while Carl Espiritu finished with 10.

The Scores:

Third Game:

DLSZ 77 - E. Purugganan 16, Villaruz 15, I. Purugganan 11, Enriquez 8, Mercado 6, Santiago 6, Dizon 2, Quillo 2, Paceno 2, Francisco 0, Noel 0, Tabu 0.

UE 69 - Roxas 24, K. Mercado 12, Dizon 7, Mallabo 6, Ancheta 5, Aguilar 5, J. Mercado 4, Pontipedra 2, Velayo 0, Sena 0, Delos Santos 0, Redulfa 0.

Quarterscores: 21-22, 42-36, 59-46, 68-54.

Fourth Game:

NUNS 107 - Lopez 30, Genido 15, Arellano 15, Dalanan 10, Macoy 10, Flores 7, Geron 6, Tundag 5, Enriquez 4, Cano 3, Pangan 2, Osorio 0, Garcia 0, Dizon 0.

AdU 73 - Edrada 19, Caintic 12, Subido 12, Espiritu 10, Delos Santos 4, Bulan 4, Cads 4, Maycong 3, Timtiman 3, Gayatin 2, De. Sepnio 0, Dw. Sepnio 0, Thompson 0.

Quarterscores: 25-15, 57-36, 87-49, 107-73.

SIBOL pulls off comeback to snatch Identity V quarterfinal berth

Asian Games

The Philippine esports team Sibol bounced back from a one-set deficit to overcome Indonesia, 2-1, and secure a spot in the quarterfinal round of the Identity V event at the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday at the Aichi Sky Expo.

Rallying behind key plays from Johanne Juico and Joshua Gumaro, the seven-man Filipino squad dropped the opening set before dominating the next two with scores of 3-5, 5-3, and 7-2.

Sibol clinched qualification with a 1-2 record in Group A, surviving an initial rough stretch that saw them fall 0-2 to Thailand and drop their opener against Chinese Taipei.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s squad, led by Daffa Arafan, was eliminated after three straight losses.

Joining the Philippines from Group A in the quarterfinal round are Thailand and Chinese Taipei. Advance qualifiers from Group B include Malaysia, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

Sibol takes on Group B contender Malaysia in the quarterfinals at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Paalam last man standing for Philippine boxing, set for much-awaited rematch

c/o POC/PSC media

Carlo Paalam is the last man standing for the six-strong Philippine men's boxing team at the 2026 Asian Games, and on his shoulders rides a 16-year drought.

The last time the Philippines won Asian Games boxing gold was in Guangzhou 2010. Since then — Incheon, Jakarta-Palembang, Hangzhou — bronze, heartbreak, and near-misses.

Wednesday at the Nishio Gymnasium, that drought either ends its long march toward gold, or continues.

Paalam punched his way into the medal round after outpointing China's Jiamao Zhang in the quarterfinals. The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist will now face the most dangerous man left in the draw: Kazakhstan's Makhmud Sabyrkhan.

It's a rematch four years in the making.

The two have met before, with Paalam defeating Sabyrkhan via a 4-1 split decision in the bantamweight final of the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan to claim the gold.

Paalam knows history won't help him. Sabyrkhan is not the same boy he beat in Amman.

Born September 9, 2001, the Kazakh has matured into a two-time world champion — silver at the 2021 AIBA World Championships, gold at the 2023 IBA World Championships after blanking Uzbekistan's Oybek Juraev 5-0 in the final. 

He represented Kazakhstan in the men's 57kg division at the 2024 Paris Olympics, then dropped to his ideal 55kg and dominated the 2025 WB World Boxing Championships. World Boxing voted him Best Boxer of 2025 for a reason.

Here in Nagoya, it's a chance for revenge for Sabyrkhan.

For Paalam and Philippine boxing, it's bigger than one fight. One win away from a guaranteed silver, two wins away from ending a gold drought that has lasted since Rey Saludar stood atop the podium in Guangzhou.

One Filipino left. One Kazakh world champion in his way.

Paalam through to semifinals in Asiad

c/o POC/PSC Media

Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam is through to the semifinals of the men’s 55-kilogram boxing event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, edging China’s Jiamao Zhang via split decision on Monday afternoon at Nishio City General Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Paalam returned to the Asian Games with a clear goal of going beyond his bronze-medal finish at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. After nearly a year away from competition and skipping the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, the Filipino boxer showed he was ready for the big stage once again.

The 28-year-old Paalam immediately set the tone in the opening round, pressing forward and forcing Zhang toward the ropes. His aggressive start was rewarded as three judges gave him the round.

“Ang ginawa ko lang dito is ‘yung normal ko lang na ginagawa. Makinig sa mga coaches ko. Pag tinamaan ako, ibabalik ko ng mas malinis. Inisip ko na wag magmadali, kinokontrol ko lang yung emosyon ko. So, diskarte sa ibabaw ng ring talaga ‘yung nagpanalo din talaga sa akin,” he said.

Paalam will next face Makhmud Sabyrkhan of Kazakhstan, the 2025 world champion, in the men’s 55kg semifinal at the 2026 Asian Games.

The two boxers have met before, with Paalam defeating Sabyrkhan via a 4-1 split decision in the bantamweight final of the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, on November 12, 2022, to claim the gold medal.

“Lahat naman kami rito preparado. Kung sino man nakalaban ko last year, iba na rin siya ngayon kasi nag ensayo na rin. Lahat kami rito taon-taon nag-iimprove. One step at a time lang. Walang lugar para magkamali ngayon oara maabit natin yung ginto para sa bansa.”

Zhang came back strong in the second, using his counters to disrupt Paalam’s rhythm and taking control of the early exchanges. But the Filipino adjusted as the round progressed, becoming more selective with his punches and finding success with cleaner combinations.

Paalam’s adjustments paid off, earning the nod of four judges in the second round.

The bout became more physical in the third. Zhang brought Paalam down to the canvas in one exchange, but the Filipino remained composed and returned to his game plan using his jab, movement and quick one-two combinations to finish the fight strongly.

When the final bell sounded, Paalam had done enough to secure the split-decision victory and punch his ticket to the semifinals.

Association of boxing Alliances in the Philippines President Marcus Manalo praised Paalam’s performance, saying the Filipino boxer set the tone early and did enough to secure his place in the medal round.

“He was able to set the tone and essentially finished the bout after two rounds. The last round he just have to maintain the lead na lang. Very proud of his performance at ngayong naka-apak na siya sa medal round, I’m sure he’s more motivated na ituloy-tuloy pa.”

The win keeps Paalam’s bid for another Asian Games medal alive as he looks to improve on his bronze from Jakarta and continue his return to the international boxing scene.

NU, UST hurdle separate opposition heading into their showdown

c/o UAAP Media

UAAP Season 89 High School Girls' Volleyball Standings
UST 2-0
NUNS 2-0
ADU 1-1
DLSZ 1-1
UPIS 1-0
FEU-D 0-1
UE 0-2
Ateneo 0-2

Games on Tuesday at the Paco Arena
9 a.m. – UPIS vs. Ateneo
11 a.m. – FEU-D vs. ADU
1 p.m. – NUNS vs. UST
3 p.m. – DLSZ vs. UE

Defending champion National University Nazareth School and University of Santo Tomas swept their respective foes to remain undefeated in the UAAP Season 89 High School Volleyball Tournament on Sunday evening at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Lady Bullpups made quick work of the De La Salle-Zobel Junior Lady Archers, needing just 56 minutes to cruise to a 25-10, 25-14, 25-14 victory, while the Junior Golden Tigresses spoiled the season debut of the Far Eastern University-Diliman Lady Tamaraws with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-20 sweep.

Fifteen-year-old rookie Xyz Rayco continued her strong start to her UAAP career, tallying 13 points on eight attacks and four aces to go with 11 receptions.

Supporting her were Jhaynna Bulandres and Adeleine Agustin with seven points apiece, while Micaella Gould glued things together with 16 excellent sets.

Lady Bullpups head coach Karl Dimaculangan fielded all of his players in the contest.

"Siguro, yung isang, yun nga, inaano sa player na nakikita namin kung ano yung kulang namin, at the same time, sino yung puwede namin pang magamit sa mga susunod na games," he said. "Siguro yun yung malaking bagay siguro sa ‘min. Everyone can step up."

Meanwhile, Adrianna Menchavez led the Junior Tigresses with 13 points and five digs.

Erin Sotto, the younger sister of former UAAP Boys' Basketball MVP Kai Sotto, added nine points on three blocks, while Mary Nicole Palaez and Taj Teves chipped in six points apiece. Teves also had six receptions and five digs.

Chasliey Pepito anchored UST's floor defense with 13 receptions and seven digs.

"Malaking momentum para sa amin kasi last year hindi kami nanalo I think sa FEU. So this time, at least maganda yung start namin," said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes. "Ayun naman yung gusto naming mangyari, na makuha namin yung mga ineensayo namin sa UST."

Ifnanya Udeagbala paced the Lady Tamaraws with 18 points, while Alexa Amana added 11.

The victories set up an early showdown between the two unbeaten squads, with the Lady Bullpups and Junior Tigresses facing off on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Paco Arena.

"Syempre alam naman natin yung UST is a contender na every season. So, hindi namin pwedeng i-take, lalo na yung preparation namin, na i-take namin for granted," said Dimaculangan of the matchup.

“Well, siguro yung mga na-e-execute namin na mga ginagawa namin para mas maging consistent pa kami—those effective plays, attacks, and blocks. Ngayon naman, yung adjustment namin is for those errors, sa mga lapses na hindi namin na-e-execute nang maayos. Kumbaga, we did not execute well dito sa game na ’to. Yun yung mga titingnan namin sa mga susunod na practice. Kasi ano na eh, mahigpit na araw na eh, one-day preparation for Tuesday’s game, so yung adjustment na ’yon, on the court saka sa scouting na," said Reyes.

In the other game, Kristal Joy Martin delivered a solid all-around performance of 15 points, 11 receptions, and seven digs, while Ella Gonzalvo fired 18 points as the Lady Baby Falcons subdued the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 25-15, 25-17, 25-23, to enter the win column.

"Siguro number one, medyo nag-a-adjust pa kami ngayong game kasi because nga dahil galing sa talo," said Adamson head coach JP Yude, whose Falcons were coming off a 25-14, 29-31, 25-17, 25-17 loss to NUNS on opening day. "Pero we thank the Lord for a good result today. So, siguro kailangan lang trabahuhin everything eh—character, attitude, the skills wise, sa passing namin, sa during pressure moments, scenarios na pwede so yun pa siguro yung kailangan trabahuhin."

Rookie Naihma Banal paced Ateneo with nine points and five digs.

Lao apologizes for Asiad mess for Philippine volleyball

Alas Pilipinas Men c/o POC/PSC

Despite barely warming his seat as president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), Frank Lao is taking full responsibility and accountability for the lack of financial support for the national athletes competing in the 20th Asian Games.

In a statement on Monday, Lao issued a humble apology to the Alas Pilipinas men’s squad — particularly team captain Bryan Bagunas — following his revelations about the severe lack of federation backing heading into this prestigious continental showcase.

Lao, a distinguished businessman and chairman of Strong Group Athletics, admitted that upon stepping into office last month, he inherited a depleted treasury burdened with roughly P25 million in liabilities and outstanding payables.

Compounding the crisis, financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) remains frozen following the suspension and withdrawal of support by the International Volleyball Federation and the Philippine Olympic Committee last June — a fallout that effectively choked off the allowances of athletes preparing for the Asian Games.

With that, Lao has begun digging into his own personal resources to settle federation debts, clear unpaid coaching salaries, and cover foreign travel expenses. In fact, before the Alas Pilipinas Men flew to Nagoya, he personally distributed P20,000 in pocket money to each player and shouldered the round-trip airfare for late addition Owa Retamar.

“As president of the PNVF, I take full accountability for what happened to the allowances of both Alas Pilipinas Men and Women squads as well as the beach volleyball teams,” said Lao, who stayed until the wee hours of Monday trying to figure out how to solve this financial crisis and stabilize the morale of the athletes competing in the Asian Games.

“After taking over the PNVF in the middle of August, we were left with nothing but more than P25 million in debt. We are now starting to pay all the coaches, settle travel trips, and clear other payables that the federation owes them.”

The PNVF had been mired in toxic leadership disputes long before Lao secured the presidency during the August 10 special elections at the Solaire Theater Southlinks Boardroom.

Yet, rather than pointing fingers or making excuses, Lao is turning the page and calling on stakeholders to rally behind the athletes.

“Ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya na nagkulang kami. Pero bigyan nyo kami ng pagkakataon na makabawi sa inyo,” Lao said, displaying a rare corporate humility in the face of an administrative mess created and left by his predecessors.

“Just give me some time po. Sa akin ito bilang presidente ng PNVF. I take this responsibility. Sorry po.”

John Cabang Tolentino earns bronze at Asian Games

c/o POC/PSC Media

 

Olympian John Cabang Tolentino has officially conquered the Asian Games podium, delivering a historic bronze medal for the Philippines in the men's 110-meter hurdles final on Sunday night. 

Competing under the lights at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, the Filipino track star clocked a season-best time of 13.48 seconds to secure his highly coveted medal. 

He finished closely behind China's Chen Yuanjiang, who captured the gold with a blazing 13.15 seconds, and Japan's Rachid Muratake, who took silver at 13.29 seconds. 

The hard-fought victory marks a monumental milestone for Philippine athletics, ending a decades-long medal drought in the continental hurdles events. 

The milestone marks the country's first Asiad hurdles medal since Elma Muros in 1990, and the first for a Filipino male hurdler since 1954. 

This breakthrough in Nagoya builds on the hurdler's incredible recent momentum. On December 12, 2025, Cabang Tolentino captured gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Bangkok, Thailand, where he set a new SEA Games record of 13.66 seconds. 

His performance shattered the previous record of 13.69 seconds, which had been held by Thailand's Jamras Rittidet since 2015. 

"I'm very happy. It was just a lot of self-pressure, and I just did it," an emotional Cabang Tolentino shared after the race. 

Having narrowly missed the podium with a heartbreaking fourth-place finish at the previous Hangzhou Games, the hurdler emphasized the unyielding mindset that fueled his redemption arc. 

"I came here... to any competition, always to win," he declared. 

Acknowledging the grueling physical and mental journey required to compete against Asia's elite, he reflected on what kept him moving forward. 

"Even in the hard times, I kept pushing... I was always dreaming about this," he added. 

Cabang Tolentino dedicated the historic triumph to his core support system: his coach, his family, his girlfriend, and the entire nation. 

With an Asian Games bronze and a SEA Games record now firmly in his grasp, the athletic standout is already looking toward the ultimate sporting stage. 

"I'm gonna go for LA Olympics," he affirmed.

SIBOL nets Philippines a bronze in Pokumon UNITE

eSports left to right Lance David, Robert Mempin, Ducke Leoncio, coach Albert Camp, PESO President Brian Lim, Kim Rey Salazar, Vaughn Ocio, Lawrence Gatmaitan via POC/PSC Media

SIBOL settled for a bronze medal after a, 0-2, loss to Indonesia in the semifinals of the Pokémon UNITE esports event on Sunday at the Aichi Sky Expo Hall on Sunday.

Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippines was poised to take the opening game.

Philippines saw its huge lead got erased as Indonesia seized Kyogre in the final two minutes to mount a comeback, 312-277, in Game 1.

Sibol never regained its footing after the heartbreaking opener.

Riding on the momentum, Indonesia pulled away early, all the way to dominate Game 2, 887-204.

“Actually nung Game 1, sobrang swerte nung kalaban. If you will notice, sobrang low health nung mga kalaban. It’s just that kinapos tayo,” said Sibol Pokémon UNITE head coach Albert Camp.

Despite the semifinal loss, Camp was proud of his team, especially after securing the country’s first-ever esports medal in the Asian Games.

“Still, sobrang happy. I’m still in awe kasi first time and sobrang happy ako sa boys ko kasi nga lifetime na nilang dadalhin ‘to. Na nagdala sila ng medalya para sa bansang Pilipinas,” he said.

Sibol—bannered by Kim Rey Salazar, Michael Vaughn Ocio, Lance David and head coach Albert Camp—couldn’t sustain the momentum of a 2-0 sweep over Hong Kong in the quarterfinals against the Indonesians.

The Filipinos collapsed during the crucial Kyogre fight in both games as the Indonesians ran away with come-from-behind wins.

Alas Pilipinas Men drops opening Asiad assignment

The Alas Pilipinas Men opened its Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games campaign with a 25-16, 27-25, 25-22 loss to South Korea on Sunday at the Park Arena Komaki.

But the defeat, according to team captain Bryan Bagunas, was only part of the challenges facing the team.

“Medyo madami kaming errors talaga, kailangan namin manage errors namin,” Bagunas said.

The Philippines struggled to close out sets, with South Korea pulling away when it mattered most.

“Nandun na e. Siguro yung finishing lang e, dun kami nagkakamali pag patapos na yung set. Need namin manage yung errors,” he said.

Bagunas also pointed to their limited preparation as the team had only been training with Joshua Retamar for two days for the Asian Games.

“Siguro isa yung serving namin… two days pa lang kami training with Owa [Retamar],” Bagunas said.

Bagunas said he has been reminding the younger players to use the Asian Games as an opportunity to gain exposure, particularly with the possibility of playing overseas in the future.

“Sabi namin itong Asian Games malaking tulong para sa amin lalo na para sa mga bata, exposure na rin nila,” he said. “Kung makakapaglaro overseas as import, makikita sila dito.”

“So yun na lang sinasabi ko sa kanila, minomotivate ko na lang sila na laban lang natin ito and sana in the future mas okay yung suporta na dadating sa amin. Tuloy-tuloy lang.” Despite the difficult situation, Bagunas made sure to acknowledge the fans who traveled to Japan to support the team. 

“Talagang nagpapasalamat talaga kami sa lahat ng fans na pumunta pa dito sa Japan para suportahan kami. Talagang di naffeel yung walang suporta from the fans. Nandiyan kayo, manalo o matalo.”

Ubas earns finals berth in Asiad long jump

c/o POC/PSC Media

A robust leap kept the Philippine athletics squad's medal hopes soaring on Sunday morning, as veteran Janry Ubas officially booked his ticket to the men's long jump final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The 32-year-old former Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist delivered a solid 7.59-meter clearance on his second attempt at the Mizuho Park Stadium. 

The mark was enough to hit the strict qualification standard and safely secure his spot in tomorrow's medal round, placing him eighth overall in a highly competitive field of 12 finalists. 

Uzbekistan's Anvar Anvarov led the qualifying pack with a formidable 8.00-meter leap.

"Sobrang happy kasi na-hit agad ang qualifying standard. Sobrang lakas talaga, parang final na. 'Yong iba na magagaling, nahirapan din," Ubas shared, acknowledging the grueling continental talent pool. (“I’m so happy because I hit the qualifying standard right away. The competition is really strong, it already feels like the finals. Even some of the top athletes struggled.”)

This marks Ubas' second consecutive Asiad final appearance. During the 2023 Hangzhou Games, he raised expectations by ranking third in the qualification round, but ultimately finished seventh overall. Heading into tomorrow's highly anticipated showdown, the seasoned jumper remains composed, opting to rely on his vast international experience rather than succumbing to the pressure.

"Feeling ko may natira pa akong lakas at mag-iimprove pa sa finals. Focus lang, huwag ma-pressure, tiwala lang sa training. Lahat naman naghanda," he noted, hinting that he has reserved his best jumps for when it matters most. (“I feel like I still have energy left to improve in the finals. I just need to focus, avoid the pressure, and trust my training. Everyone came prepared.”)

Currently on his third tour of duty at the quadrennial meet, the stakes have never been higher for the Philippine track star. Aware that Father Time is catching up, Ubas is treating this Nagoya campaign with a renewed sense of urgency and is fiercely motivated to finally step onto the Asian Games podium.

"Gusto ko talaga maka-produce ng medalya kasi pang-third time ko na ito. Next time, 36 or 37 na ako," Ubas admitted. (“I really want to produce a medal because this is already my third time here. By the next edition, I will already be 36 or 37 years old.")

Eala set for Thai matchup to kickstart her Asiad campaign

c/o POC/PSC Media

Top-seeded Filipina tennis standout Alexandra "Alex" Eala launches her quest for gold in the 20th Asian Games women's singles tournament on Monday at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.

Following a first-round bye, world No. 18 Eala faces Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej (ranked No. 510) in the Round of 16, with the official match time still to be set. 

Eala holds a clear advantage, having previously defeated the 31-year-old Thai player 6-3, 6-4 at the 2022 ITF Thailand 05A event.

Cheapchandej advanced to the second round following a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Pakistan's Mahin Aftab Qureshi.

Despite her top billing, the 21-year-old Eala remains cautious as she aims to recover from a recent second-round exit at the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open, where she fell 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 to Russia's Tatiana Prozorova (world No. 180).

"I think I have as big a chance as any other person on the draw (in the Asian Games). I think once you compete and, like I said, once you're in the draw, you have a chance so I'll do my best," said Eala following her Singapore loss.

Eala is aiming to build on her bronze medal from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and contribute to the Philippines' gold tally, which currently stands at two following gymnastics star Carlos Yulo's achievements.

Beyond her singles run, Eala will team up with Shaira Hope Rivera in the women’s doubles, opening against Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu.

In other singles action, 19-year-old Filipina Tennielle Madis exited early after a 1-6, 0-6 defeat to seventh seed Himeno Sakatsume of host nation Japan. 

Madis now shifts her focus to doubles, pairing with Stefi Marithe Aludo to face Indonesia's Anjali Kirana Junarto and Meydiana Laviola Reinnamah in their opening round.

Madis with R1 Asiad singles exit

c/o POC/PSC Media

Filipina tennis player Tenny Madis bowed out of the women’s singles event at the 20th Asian Games on Sunday.  

Madis fell to hometown bet Himeno Sakatsume in straight sets, 1-6, 0-6, in the first match on center court at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.  

The WTA No. 119 Japanese star proved too much for Madis, dictating the pace from the start of the game.   

Madis put up a gallant stand against the hometown bet but ultimately lost the match.  

“I need to train hard pa po talaga. I mean hindi lang double time kungdi ten times pa na training. I need to palakasin pa yung muscles, yung physical ko po,” she told POC Media.  

The M'lang (North Cotabato) native relished the opportunity to play on center court against a formidable opponent in these games where Team Philippines’ participation is supported by the POC and PSC.  

“I’m excited po but at the same time I’m kinakabahan po kasi sa center court. But it’s an opportunity for me to play the center court and a seed seven player for Japan,” Madis shared.  

The 19-year-old said her training with the University of Hawai'i at Manoa helped prepare her and women's doubles teammate Stefi Aludo for the Asian Games. 

"We'll do our best. Gagapangin namin tomorrow yung laro namin. Kakayanin po namin," Madis said. 

"I'm so very thankful and blessed sa lahat ng lahat na binigay sa akin ng Philippine tennis. Pato po yung PHILTA, yung suporta po nila sa akin. I will always thank God for this opportunity na binigay niya sa akin and my family, my friends," he explained. 

Madis will stil compete in the women's doubles event, as she and Aludo open their campaign against Indonesia's Anjali Junarto and Meydiana Reinnamah. 

FEU extends winning streak to fifteen straight in UAAP women's football

 

c/o UAAP Media

In a match overshadowed by an unpleasant tussle between the two teams, Judie Arevalo’s brace powered Far Eastern University to a 4-0 win over the University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Arevalo, the Season 88 Golden Boot awardee, scored in the 30th and 71st minutes, finding the back of the net with sumptuous finishes past Fighting Maroons goalkeeper Mariel Sancho.

Before Arevalo completed her brace, Iries Dela Cruz set the tone for the Lady Tamaraws with a header just four minutes into the match, while Julia Sacmar’s solo run into the box doubled the defending champions’ lead five minutes later.

“Sobrang ganda ng pinakita ng mga players, especially nung first half,” said FEU assistant coach Fitch Arboleda. “Lahat ng goals namin are coming from our plays. 'Yun ang madalas naming sinasabi sa kanila: we can win the game nang maganda kapag galing sa play talaga namin 'yung mga scores.”

Unfortunately, the match descended into unsavory scenes in the 72nd minute when both teams engaged in a fight that started with a clash between FEU’s Kristine Dela Peña and UP’s Angelica Dizon.

The resulting fracas saw three players from each side receive red cards. The Lady Tamaraws lost goalkeeper Blaine Barredo, Dela Peña, and Kyza Colina, while Sancho, Jessa May Aranas, and Ainnah De Guzman were dismissed for the Fighting Maroons.

Despite the incident, both sides performed the customary handshake at the final whistle and showed good sportsmanship toward one another.

“Very unfortunate lang,” said Arboleda. “Out of nowhere, nagdi-discuss kami kung sino ang i-su-sub namin para sa second wave sana ng system, pero nagulat lang kami.”

“We really don’t know paano nangyari 'yun. Learning din sa amin [at] sa mga players na 'pag may mga ganung instances, try not to engage kasi, 'yun nga, nakakaapekto sa mga sumusunod na games—and it’s not FEU.”

The result extended FEU’s winning streak to 15 matches and its unbeaten run to 33.

Both teams were also without their head coaches for the match. FEU’s Let Dimzon was away on personal business, while UP’s Anto Gonzales was serving a one-game suspension stemming from his red card last Wednesday against De La Salle University.

Both schools return to action on Wednesday at the same venue, with UP taking on neighbor Ateneo de Manila University at 4:30 p.m., followed by FEU’s clash against the University of Santo Tomas at 7 p.m.

FEU spoils Hubalde senior coaching debut, extends UE losing streak to 23 games

c/o UAAP

Far Eastern University spoiled Paulo Hubalde’s coaching debut with University of the East, scoring a 93-70 win in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Five Tamaraws scored in double figures, led by Gambian center Mo Konateh’s 15 points and nine rebounds.

Kirby Mongcopa also shone with a well-rounded performance of 13 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and one steal.

“Clearly, it’s been a long two weeks and a very difficult two weeks for us. The way we had our collapse against Adamson was not what we wanted… There’s a tough conversation with the players and the staff… but our focus now is gonna be so much more on the process, we’re gonna focus on doing things the right way and the winning will take care of itself,” said FEU head coach Sean Chambers.

The Tamaraws, who fell a game short of reaching the Final Four last season, bounced back emphatically from their narrow 53-56 opening-day loss to the Falcons.

Already ahead by 14 points at halftime, the Tamaraws took full control of the game with a 22-15 third-quarter run that pushed their lead to 21, 65-44.

FEU’s lead ballooned to as high as 29 after Konateh put back a miss by Mongcopa with 2:51 left in the game, making it 88-59.

The Tamaraws notched their first win of the season to join four other teams in the middle of the standings with identical 1-1 records.

“Talo kami sa first game namin and alam ko sa sarili ko rin doon na sobrang tight ko maglaro. Inisip ko lang, marami pang games so pwede akong makabawi. Focus lang talaga kami,” said Mongcopa, who was held to just four points on 2-of-11 shooting in their 56-53 loss to Adamson University on opening day.

Reigning MVP Janrey Pasaol added 12 points, six assists, and two steals without committing a turnover in the blowout, while Jedric Daa chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.

Meanwhile, the coaching change early in the season has yet to yield results for the Red Warriors, who dropped to 0-3 and extended their losing streak to 23 games.

Former head coach Chris Gavina resigned from his post after going winless in Season 88 and dropping the first two games of the current campaign, prompting UE to name Hubalde, its 16-and-under tactician, as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Tope Lagat led UE with 20 points and five rebounds, while Mo Tañedo made the most of his trips to the line, going 10-of-13 on free throws to finish with 16 points.

Gene Carillo also had 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists against four turnovers in the losing effort.

FEU will look to continue its winning ways on Wednesday at the same venue when it faces defending champion De La Salle University at 5:30 p.m. Earlier at 3 p.m., UE will seek to end its long misery against University of Santo Tomas.

The Scores:

FEU 93 — Konateh 15, Mongcopa 13, Bautista 13, Pasaol 12, Daa 12, Cabonillas 6, Burgos 5, Gish 5, Nakai 4, Hall 4, Felipe 3, Rañeses 1, Montemayor 0, Macapagal 0.

UE 70 — Lagat 20, Tañedo 16, Carillo 13, Ajani 7, Robles 4, Cruz-Dumont 4, Sabroso 2, Santos 2, Jimenez 2, Vasquez 0, Mascarinas 0, Perez 0.

Quarterscores: 23-15, 43-29, 65-44, 93-70.

Petecio earns Asiad quarterfinal berth

c/o POC/PSC

Nesthy Petecion stamped her superiority in her first fight at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games with a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) victory over Jordan’s Mays Alreem Abukhadijah in women’s 60 kgs class of boxing at the Nishio City General Gymnasium on Saturday.

Referee Lukman Wekadapola stopped the fight in the 1:51 mark of the second round.

The featherweight silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paris 2024 asserted her dominance right from the opening bell to get the judges nod, 10-9.

The Filipina boxing star then unleashed her sheer power in the second round, scoring two devastating knockdowns against her Jordanian opponent that left the referee with no choice but to wave off the fight.

Petecio joined fellow Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam in the quarterfinals—Paalam defeated Commonwealth Games silver medalist Jadumani Mandengbam of India via a 3-0 split decision earlier on Saturday.

"Good day today for us as two Olympic medalists Carlo (Paalam) and Nesthy joined (Junmilardo) Ogayre to make it three boxers in the quarterfinals," Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Marcus Manalo said.

The ABAP chief outlined the crucial upcoming bouts, noting that the national team is now just one victory away from securing podium finishes.

In the quarters, Petecio will face Chengyu Yang of China, Ogayre is pitted against Uzbek Abdumalik Khlakov in men's 60 kgs and Paalam will go up against China’s Jiaomao Zhang in the men's 55-kg.

delos Santos snags bronze in Asiad

c/o POC/PSC Media

Weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos made a statement in his Asian Games debut, clinching bronze in the Men’s 70kg event at the 20th Asian Games on Saturday at the Fukiage Hall in Nagoya, Japan.

The 20-year-old lifted 141kg in the snatch followed by a 183kg in the clean and jerk for a 324kg total in his first appearance in the continental meet.

Aside from winning bronze, Delos Santos also broke his previous junior world and Asian record in clean and jerk by successfully lifting 181kg in his third attempt.

The pride of Zamboanga City once again rewrote the junior world and Asian record books, hosting an 183kg lift in his third and final attempt in clean and jerk and a 324kg total.

“I'm thankful, my God. Unexpected, but yun, palagi ko naman sinasabi, have fun. Like sila at Heidi, sinasabi, have fun, no pressure. But, opposite ako. And I give myself sobrang pressure. Like, whenever mag-isa lang ako, sige ko, wag mo sa sayang, yung first time mo to. Kung hindi, hindi ka makamedal, another four years,” he told POC Media.

Delos Santos said he felt his late father Alvin’s presence during the warmup, where he noticed the light was brighter than usual in his platform.

“Coincidentally, yung lights, yung ganyan, it's not that bright sa iba. But yung platform ko mismo was the bright. Sabi ko, I'm gonna be sentimental. That's papa. Nangyari din to sa akin sa Egypt. Parang warehouse siya. And so, yung sun, barely siya nagapasok sa loob. Pero may mga windows. Yung light beam, Sa platform ko lang, ina-observe ko. Sabi ko, okay, thank you pa. Okay, nandito ka,” he said.

North Korea’s Ri Won Ju topped the event with a total of 349kg, successfully lifting 198kg in the clean and jerk to set a new world, Asian Games and Asian record.

Hometown bet Masanori Miyamoto captured silver with a 342kg total, despite leading after the snatch.

When asked how he will celebrate, Delos Santos said he will go around, eat and enjoy Japan with his mother and his team.

SIBOL earns QF berth in Pokemon Unite

Sibol’s Pokémon UNITE team completed a remarkable turnaround, sweeping its remaining matches to claim the top spot in Pool A and advance to the quarterfinals of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 at Aichi Sky Expo on Saturday.

After opening its campaign with a disqualification, the Philippine squad bounced back in emphatic fashion, defeating Chinese Taipei and Malaysia by identical 2-0 scores to finish the group stage with a 2-1 record.

The Filipinos were dealt a major setback on Friday when both Sibol and Kazakhstan were disqualified from their opening match because of uniform violations.

Rather than allowing the controversy to derail their campaign, Sibol regrouped and responded with back-to-back victories, putting the team back in contention for a medal and securing the No. 1 seed in Pool A.

Sibol began Saturday by sweeping Chinese Taipei, 2-0, before producing another 2-0 victory over Malaysia for the Team Philippine campaign supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.

“Unfortunately, ‘yun nga, ‘yung nangyari kahapon. Pero binawi namin,” said Sibol Pokémon UNITE head coach Albert Camp. “Heading into the knockout stage, we are really prepared kung sino ‘man ang makakatapat namin sa quarterfinals. ‘Yun, we will still practice and tuloy pa rin kami kung ano ‘yung ginagawa namin para malagpasan namin ang quarterfinals.”

“We are really confident with our bracket for this Asian Games, but we didn’t underestimate our opponents,” Camp added.

Chinese Taipei, which entered its match against Kazakhstan with a 1-1 record, could still tie the Philippines at the top of the standings with a victory.

However, Sibol owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after its win over the Taiwanese side, assuring the Filipinos of the pool’s top seed.

Sibol will next face the winner of the final selection phase between Hong Kong and India in the quarterfinals.

The Philippine esports campaign also saw Karl Gonzalvo bow out of the Puyo Puyo Champions competition after losing to Thailand’s Tanarak Wongkitikun, 2-5, in the quarterfinals.

14th place finish for our Pinoy marathon runners

c/o POC/PSC

Richard Salaño pushed his body to the absolute limit at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, battling through a severe bout of the flu and in-race sickness to cross the finish line of the men's marathon on Saturday.

Salaño clocked 2 hours, 20 minutes and 34 seconds to secure a 14th place finish. He arrived just under 10 minutes behind champion, Japan's Ichitaka Yamashita, who ruled the event with in 2:10:49.

Following the grueling race, Salaño took to social media to apologize to his supporters, revealing the sheer physical distress he endured on the course. Still recovering from a prolonged flu, the Filipino runner shared that he had to rely on paracetamol just to fight off a fever and make it to the starting line.

Compounding his physical struggles, his in-race energy intake did not sit well with his ailing body, causing him to vomit during the run.

"Sorry Ma'am and Sir! I try my best today pero kulang pa din. I am not fully recovered, nagtake lang ng paracetamol para malabanan ang lagnat," Salaño wrote in his heartfelt post. "Hindi namin gusto matrangkaso ng matagal, pasensya na sa inyo."

The illness has swept through the Philippine marathon camp in Nagoya. Just yesterday, Salaño's teammate and current Philippine record-holder, Sonny Wagdos, was forced to make the painful decision to withdraw from the competition entirely due to the exact same ailment.

Meanwhile, in the women's marathon, Filipina runner Artjoy Torregosa also checked in at 14th place. She completed the demanding course with a time of 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 36 seconds. The women's race was conquered by Bahrain's Shitaye Habte, who captured the gold medal in 2:27:31.

Laurance makes it to Asiad Women's 100m final

Philippine sprinter Jessica Laurance displayed an impressive debut at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as she successfully reached the finals of the women's 100-meter dash at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.

The 22-year-old sprinter, who traces her maternal roots to Tanay, Rizal, clocked 11.58 seconds to finish 8th in the championship heat. The finals were dominated by China's Yujie Chen, who captured the gold with a blistering new Games record of 11.06 seconds.

Despite missing the podium, Laurance was incredibly proud of her unexpected finals appearance in her first-ever Asiad representing the Philippines. Currently taking her master's in physiology at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Sydney, the young track star reflected on the deeper meaning of her campaign.

"It was so fun, it's my first Asian Games. I am incredibly proud to be here. Honestly, I've never thought that I'd be in this level," Laurance shared. "Representing my country has really made me connect with my family here. They have provided me opportunities, hope I've made them proud."

Her journey to the elite final wasn't without hurdles. Laurance checked in 4th during the preliminary heats with a time of 11.62 seconds, overcoming early logistical challenges outside of her control. "I think I improve every race. Yesterday in the prelims it was a bit messy because the transport was a bit chaotic. So I only got a 30-minute to warm up," she revealed.

She impressively bounced back in the semifinals, improving her time to 11.57 seconds to book her hard-earned ticket to the championship heat. "I am proud that I even made the final," Laurance added. "I was hoping for a better time, but I mean it's my first Asian Games running against the fastest of Asia. I can't be mad at myself."

With the 100m now in the books, Laurance is shifting her focus to her upcoming events: the 4x100m Mixed Relay and the 4x100m Women's Relay.

Looking ahead, she declared a bold ambition for her athletic career on the continental stage: "One day I aspire to win this competition. I do believe I can do it. I can't wait to put the Philippines on the map."

Meanwhile, in other athletics results, Filipino runners Michael del Prado and Gabriel Borado clocked times of 48.13 and 48.14 seconds, respectively, in the Men's 400m, unfortunately falling short of advancing to the final round.

Paalam ekes out QF berth

c/o POC/PSC Media

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist medalist Carlo Paalam made a spectacular return from a year-long injury layoff, successfully advancing to the quarterfinals of the men's 55kg boxing competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Fighting at the Nishio Gymnasium, the 2018 Jakarta Asiad bronze medalist showcased his veteran poise to defeat Commonwealth Games silver medalist Jadumani Mandengbam of India via a 3-0 split decision.

Paalam acknowledged the tough challenge posed by his hungry opponent. 

"Mahusay din ang Indian, kapag bago gusto nila matalo ang may pangalan na. Nakisabay na lang ako sa kanya sa huling round," Paalam told POC Media.

Despite his long absence from competitive boxing, Paalam was thrilled with how his body responded to the physical toll of the bout. 

"Sobrang ganda po yung laban namin. Tsaka nag-adjust din po talaga ako sa taas ng ring kanina po kasi yun nga, first time ko lumaban ngayon," he shared in a post-fight interview. 

The grueling matchup served as the perfect ultimate test for his stamina. 

"Thankful po ako sa performance na nilabas ko kasi nahatak yung endurance ko po... kahit pagod po. Parang si Pacquiao lang po eh, na ibubuhos buhay talaga yung boxing po," he proudly added.

While the scorecards reflected a split decision, Paalam emphasized that his only goal is to fight without regrets. 

"Gawin lang namin yung best namin po. Kada laban po at least wala kaming pinagsisihan sa taas ng lona po. Kasi sacrifice namin yung panalo talaga," he explained. 

He credited his successful return to his faith, his supportive teammates, and the steadfast guidance of coaches Ronald Chavez and Elmer Pamisa.

The boxing star also took the opportunity to deliver a heartfelt plea to Filipino fans, asking for their unwavering prayers rather than criticism.

 "Wag po kami i-bash kasi sobrang hirap ng laban dito po... suportahan nyo kami, hindi nyo kami iba-bash kasi pagdala palang ng pangalan namin dito, dala namin Pilipinas," Paalam passionately stated. "Hindi lang apelyido namin, bayan namin dala namin po". 

Paalam will next face Jiamao Zhang of China for a coveted spot in the semifinals. 

Meanwhile, fellow Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio will open her own campaign against Jordan’s Mays Alrerm Abukhadijah later this afternoon in the women’s 60kg division. She looks to join Paalam and Junmilardo Ogayre in the Last 8.

Before stepping away, Paalam made sure to send a message of encouragement to his teammate: "Para kay ate Nes, goodluck sayo ate, gawin mo yung best mo, lahat kami nakasuporta sayo... para sa bayan po," he said.

Ateneo claims second win fending off Adamson

c/o UAAP Media Team

Ateneo de Manila University regained its winning ways by fending off Adamson University, 73-68, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.

The Blue Eagles thwarted every attempt by the Soaring Falcons to mount and sustain a run in the fourth quarter, securing the victory and improving their record to 2-1 for solo second place in the standings.

Ateneo interim coach Louie Alas praised his alma mater for its resilience after it battled back from several double-digit deficits in the second half.

“Every team here is capable of beating the other team so we have to go to the game well-prepared especially against Adamson, a well-coached team,” said Alas, who played for the Falcons in the early 1980s.

Trailing 52-65 with 4:16 remaining, Adamson mounted a 9-2 run behind Mat Edding, Precious Jonah, and Ray Allen Torres to cut its deficit to six, 61-67, with 1:40 left to play.

Earl Medina and Jonah pulled the Soaring Falcons to within five twice in the waning seconds, but team captain Jared Bahay remained steady at the free-throw line, restoring the Blue Eagles’ lead to seven on two occasions with a perfect 4-for-4 shooting to preserve the victory.

“After that loss against UP, Coach Louie told us that he really trusts the guards, sabi niya kami ‘yung mag takeover sa team namin. I took it seriously lang, naging accountable ako sa team namin and I just always remind them na sundin ang sistema,” said Bahay, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

One-and-done winger Travis Roberts added 14 points and three rebounds, while Ian Espinosa chipped in 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

Meanwhile, Adamson fell to 1-1 and sits in the middle of the standings alongside National University, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University.

Nigerian center Jonah paced the Soaring Falcons with 17 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, and two assists, while Edding continued to impress with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Torres also scored 12 points, while Mathew Montebon was hampered by foul trouble throughout the game, finishing with four points on 2-for-6 shooting from the field in 18 minutes and 35 seconds of playing time.

Matty Erolon was also held in check by the Blue Eagles, managing just one point while missing all five of his attempts from the field in 23 minutes and 21 seconds.

Both teams will return to action next Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Ateneo will have home-court advantage against NU at 5:30 p.m., while Adamson faces UST at 2 p.m.

The Scores:

Ateneo 73 — Bahay 18, Roberts 14, Espinosa 10, Bongo 9, Alas 7, Rogers 5. Tuano 4, Kapihe 2, Baruwa 2, Leal 2, Cainglet 0.

AdU 68 — Jonah 17, Edding 12, Torres 12, Medina 7, Anabo 5, Montebon 4, Cruz-Dumont 4, Fransman 2, Perez 2, Cañete 2, Erolon 1, Demisana 0, Pacquiao 0.

Quarterscores: 16-12, 35-27, 54-44, 73-68.