Philippine Olympic Committee formalizes partnerships with SportsPlus, SMART

(From left to right) Karate Pilipinas President Richard Lim, SportsPlus Head of Partnerships James da Costa, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, PLDT_Smart Communications First Vice President Jude Turcuato

SportsPlus, the No. 1 sportsbook in the country and a trusted PAGCOR-regulated platform, has officially entered into a four-year partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from 2025 to 2029, providing crucial support leading up to and through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as Official Gaming Partner. Smart Communications, Inc. will serve as the Official Connectivity Partner, providing telecommunications support for the initiative.

The partnership – signed by Mr. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, President of the POC; Mr. Jude H. Turcuato, First Vice President and Head of Sports at PLDT/Smart; and Mr. James da Costa, Head of Partnerships of SportsPlus – was officially sealed during a contract signing held on September 17, 2025, at Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong City.

The contract signing marked SportsPlus’ commitment to POC in giving Filipino athletes the tools, support, and visibility they need on their journey to the world’s biggest sporting stages. This includes essential athlete support, from training resources to connectivity tools - with Smart providing the products and services that keep athletes connected to their families, coaches, and fans throughout their training and competitions.

For SportsPlus, this partnership shows its strong commitment to Philippine sports, providing steady and meaningful support that helps athletes train, compete, and shine on the world stage. By working closely with the POC, SportsPlus aims to share more athlete stories, bring fans closer to the action, and promote the pride of Philippine sports here and abroad. Over the next four years, SportsPlus will invest in projects that keep athletes engaged with their fans – from digital campaigns and athlete stories to send-off events before major competitions. These efforts are designed to celebrate Filipino sporting excellence while inspiring the next generation of athletes to dream big.

As part of its athlete-first commitment, SportsPlus also recognized the outstanding performance of the country’s medalists from The World Games held in Chengdu, China  – Aislinn Yap, Carlos Baylon Jr., Kaila Napolis, and Chezka Centeno. SportsPlus will award each of them an iPhone 17 to help them stay connected as they continue to represent the Philippines.

“SportsPlus is more than a partner—we are a dedicated supporter of the exceptional talent and spirit of the Filipino athlete.  From grassroots development to the professional ranks and onto the world stage, SportsPlus is committed to standing with athletes every step of the way,” said SportsPlus Head of Partnerships James da Costa. “This partnership  is our pledge to provide the support, visibility, and resources they need to excel and bring pride to the nation.”

POC President Bambol Tolentino shared, "This collaboration with Smart and SportsPlus is a big boost for our athletes. The most important thing is preparation in all our undertakings, and these partnerships provide exactly that. With partners who are truly passionate about Philippine sports, we may not just bring home two medals like we did in the Paris Olympics  — we can achieve even more."

“Through this partnership with SportsPlus and the Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart will ensure that our athletes are connected, whether it's by providing world-class connectivity for training, live streaming sports content, or keeping our national athletes in touch with their families and supporters, especially when they compete abroad,” added Smart Communications, Inc. First Vice President and Head of Sports Jude H. Turcuato.

SMART celebrates Omega Empress' historic win in Riyadh

SMART Omega Empress

SMART Omega Empress made history by securing their first international title at the prestigious Esports World Cup x Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational Tournament, held at the AMAZON Arena in Riyadh.

Omega Empress emerged victorious against Team Vitality with a commanding 3-0 win in the grand finals, marking the first time a Filipino team has won at the esteemed Esports World Cup.

The triumph came with a substantial prize pool of $180,000 (approximately P10.6 million). Additionally, Sheen “Shinoa” Perez, the team’s standout gold laner, earned $50,000 after being named the Grand Finals MVP.

The Smart Omega Empress's journey throughout the tournament was nothing short of remarkable.

Remaining undefeated, they avenged their previous loss to the Bigetron-composed squad in the Southeast Asian Games grand finals last year, where they finished as runners-up.

Team captain and roamer Mery “Meeray” Vivero expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities and unexpected success they experienced.

“Yung experience po namin sa Riyadh is sobrang thankful po kami don kase bagong experience po yung nangyari sa amin ‘don. May mga na-experience po kami na hindi pa namin na-experience and nabigyan po kami ng opportunity na makapunta ‘don and sobrang unexpected po lahat ng nangyari sa amin,” Meeray shared during their welcome back celebration at the Amelie Hotel in Malate, Manila.

"Parang panaginip lang po eh. Kase ang haba ng panahon na prine-prepare namin ‘to and ‘yon nagbunga po lahat ng pagod namin."

Joining Meeray were Kaye Maerylle "Keishi" Alpuerto (jungler), Gwyneth "not ayanami" Diagon (EXP laner), and Rica Fatima "Amoree" Amores (midlaner).

PLDT and Smart Head of Sports and Executive Director of MVP Sports Foundation, Jude Turcuato, congratulated the team and emphasized the significance of their victory, aligning it with Smart and PLDT CEO Manny V. Pangilinan’s commitment to supporting sports in the country.

“On behalf of the Smart and PLDT President, CEO, and Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, I think this is precisely the reason why our group and our chairman support sports and in this case esports. It is the ability to inspire and unite a community, this esports community, and not just that but going beyond the whole Philippines, our whole country,” Turcuato said.

“MVP always says, ‘We do this because of nation building, we do this because to keep people united’ and I think it’s true especially when these things happen. You not only inspire yourselves in Saudi Arabia but everybody here who has interest in esports was really inspired."

Omega's Chief Marketing Officer Froi Endaya emphasized that the team's success is just the beginning.

“What we did was history. Tapos na natin ‘yon, nagawa na natin ‘yon. The next thing that we should target is to create a dynasty. Ibig sabihin, consistency and greatness. So yun yung, next challenge ko sa team," he said.

"Syempre kailangan level up tayo. Level up nang level up. Onto the next tayo. Hopefully you’ll see us more.”

Endaya also expressed hope that this victory will encourage more organizations to invest in female esports teams, recognizing the potential impact on women and the country.

“Hopefully this triggers more teams, more organizations, more people to fill in female esports players. Kase ang laking impact neto hindi lang sa mga kababaihan natin pati na rin sa bansa natin. So I think it’s really worth the investment to create so many teams. And hopefully, magkaroon talaga ng professional league for FE (female) teams,” he concluded.

MVP Group of Companies secures Paris 2024 broadcast rights

MVP Group of Companies come together to deliver multi-platform broadcast of Paris 2024. L to R, Sienna G. Olaso (FVP/Head, Channel Management & Programming - Cignal TV), Gerard L. Milan (CRO, Cignal TV), Guido R. Zaballero (President & CEO, TV5), Kristine A. Go (SVP, Smart Communications Inc.) and Jude Turcuato (FVP, Head of Sports Marketing - PLDT/Smart)

The MVP Group of Companies is ready for the Paris Games.

After sealing recent partnerships with the Philippine Olympic Committee and a number of National Sports Associations in the past few weeks and months, the group officially announced that it has secured broadcast rights for the 2024 Summer Olympics next month.

In making this announcement, MVP Group chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan shares, "We've always believed in the ability of the Filipino athlete and we're reiterating that dedication as we put all hands on deck for this monumental undertaking. We're excited for them to bring more glory to the country in Paris 2024."

Cignal and MediaQuest President & CEO Jane J. Basas adds, "We promise to deliver the biggest coverage for Paris 2024, the best which only the Filipino athlete deserve as we witness them display their athletic prowess before the world."

Fresh from the success of Team Pilipinas in Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics, in which Hidilyn Diaz finally delivered the country's historic first gold medal, as well as two silvers (Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam) and a bronze (Eumir Marcial) from our boxing contingent, Filipino athletes are raring to go in attempting to sustain the successes then to France.

The MVP Group reiterated its commitment towards documenting the steps and preparations of our athletes heading into and during the Games, as they made when they held their partnership announcement with the POC.

With the broadcast rights officially secured, Cignal TV, SMART, and PLDT are committed to showcase its coverage of the Olympics through free-to-air, pay TV, OTT, IPTV, digital, and social media platforms.

Cignal will showcase the games in free-to-air channels OneSports and RPTV, with HD broadcasts on One Sports+ and three dedicated 24/7 pay tv channels for the Games, with said specific channels exclusive for Cignal TV subscribers. TV5 will provide news features and highlights on its airwaves.

Pilipinas Live and SMART LiveStream will take care of access on OTT, with access also in play through One Sports' accounts on Facebook and YouTube, as well as their counterparts with SMART Sports and Puso Pilipinas.

As for PLDT Home bundle subscribers, they will have access towards multiple channels via an IPTV exclusive

Aside from all of this, Team Pilipinas' upcoming documentary This is Our Team, which will highlight the journey of our Filipino athletes heading into Paris, is set to be revealed down the line.

NBTC National Finals set for broadcast on SMART LiveStream

c/o NBTFC

For the whole duration of the 2024 SMART National Basketball Training Center National Finals, SMART will be making the broadcast of the #MadnessInMOA available in two ways:

One can easily check out the games streamed on the Facebook pages of SMART Sports, Puso Pilipinas, and the NBTC Philippines.

Another route is through checking out the action on the innovative SMART LiveStream app, which is available in your respective platforms.

In establishing this partnership, PLDT SMART Head of Sports Jude Turcuato shares, "SMART Communications is proud to bring unprecedented coverage to the NBTC National Finals. Following our successful coverage of the regional championships, we are thrilled to also bring the entire national finals week to the entire country. Our aim is to provide exposure to the future stars of Philippine basketball, ensuring that their talents are recognized and celebrated."

On their part, NBTC founder Eric Altamirano adds, "We are immensely grateful to Smart Communications for their unwavering commitment to the NBTC program. Their support has been instrumental in nurturing the growth of basketball talent across the Philippines. With their backing, we are confident that the NBTC National Finals will continue to serve as a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and pursue their dreams in the sport."

The competition features the some of the best young Filipino talent worldwide, who made their way to the SM Mall of Asia Arena for a week of competitive basketball.

Action today is all about the seeding round, setting the Super 32 tomorrow to determine who comprises the Supreme 16 of the two divisions.

The field then gets whittled down by half everyday, from the Fantastic 8 on Thursday to the Fearless Four on Friday.

NBTC action presses pause on Saturday, as the tournament centers on its NBTC All-Star Game, where Team Heart and Team Hustle get to face off.

We then get to know who will be the latest NBTC National Finals champion on Sunday, March 24.

NBTC set for online broadcast

The 2023 SMART-NBTC National Finals is set to take place on March 15-19, with the Mall of Asia hosting most of the matches involving the 24 participating teams.

It is making a return after a pandemic-imposed hiatus the last three years, with the game's stars of tomorrow getting their turn in the limelight.

NBTC Program Director Eric Altamirano shares, "It has always been our mission to put the spotlight on the grassroots level of Philippine basketball and after 13 years, that remains the same. We firmly believe that investing in the future now can only set us up for a brighter tomorrow."

The 24 teams are broken down into four teams from the UAAP and NCAA, eight teams from the NBTC Global Games, and the twelve Local Qualifying Tournament champions.

March 15 will feature the Super 24 round, with the winners ticketed to Division 1 and the losers to Division 2. A draw will then determine the composition of the four groups of three that comprise the round robin in the subsequent days. The top teams of each group will advance to the semifinals of each division, with the winners facing off in the culminating day on March 19.

The final day will also feature the inaugural final of the Girls Have Next, as well as the Under Armour-NBTC All-Star Game and its side events. The eight-team tournament for the girls that is powered by Fil-Nation Select will take place at Pretty Huge in Taguig from March 15-17, with the field split into two groups in a round robin.

Fans will be able to watch the action through three Facebook pages: the NBTC's, SMART Sports, and Puso Pilipinas.

Representing SMART, PLDT First Vice President and Head of Sports Jude Turcuato shares, "Our chairman MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) and our president Al Panlilio are very committed and dedicated to nation-building and that’s really why we like supporting sports because it keeps everyone united."

As a long time partner of the NBTC, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas continues to recognize the role the program has with the NSA's vision and goals. Deputy Executive Director Butch Antonio says, "The NBTC has been a source of talent before and it will continue to do so."

This iteration of the SMART-NBTC National Finals is presented by SM, Strong Realty and Development Corp., Under Armour, and Molten. Serving as sponsors are Tecno, Regent, Rebel Sports Pilipinas, MNL Kingpin, Gatorade, Swish App, Victory Liner, Darlington, Coach E Basketball School, Lighthouse Events, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Philippine Badminton Open set for return in February

PBad officials Christopher Quimpo, Imee Moreno, and Jude Turcuato

After a three-year break, the Philippine Badminton Open is set to resume next year.

The Dragonsmash Badminton Center in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City will serve as the venue for the competition this coming February 20-26.

Back in 2019, the competition served as a test event for the 30th SEA Games at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex. For the 2023 edition, it will be part of the national team's preparations for the 32nd iteration, which will take place later in the year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Imee Moreno, who will serve as the PBO project director, shares, "The Intercollegiate Tournament was able to prove to us that there are a lot of players that have a lot of potential here in our country. We are very much excited about what is in store for us in the world of badminton."

The Cagayan de Oro councilor adds, "The Philippine Badminton Open is a milestone for us because this will be the start of our national ranking system for our players. This is where we can help develop and hone the skills of our players. This is also through this tournament that we can support our national team players, especially as they prepare for the SEA Games and other international tournaments."

The Philippine Badminton Association also bared that it will introduce a rankings system, designating the PBO as a Super 500 tournament, with a PhP 1,000,000 pot. PhP 70,000 will be rewarded to the singles winners (men's and women's) and PhP 150,000 to the doubles winners (men's, women's, mixed).

The NSA considers the PBO as one of the many domestic competitions they are planning for the upcoming year, with the world slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels.

PBaD Secretary-General Christopher Quimpo shares, "The Philippine Badminton Open has been there since I joined PBAD. The first tournament was back in 2016 and we had 500-plus players compete. After, the last time we held this was right before the 2019 SEA Games. It's very welcoming that we will have the Philippine Open again next year. A lot of learnings and clamor for tournaments happened since then. But a question was raised, 'Who's really the best in our country?' And we hope that we can find them in this tournament."

PBad vice president Jude Turcuato adds, "On behalf of the MVP Sports Foundation, chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and our president Al S. Panlilio, badminton is one of the sports that we identified where the Filipino can be a world-class athlete. Getting into that level takes a lot of training, repetition, and mindset. It will take the full force of the badminton community to get it done. It used to be one of the country's most popular sports, and the community has shown that it can rise once again. This tournament will jumpstart what we want to do for the calendar year."

Interested participants can register through the tournament portal, https://tinyurl.com/PHIBadmintonOpen. Entry fee is PhP 1,000, which includes a shirt, shuttlecock, and court fees. Deadline for registration is February 5, 2023.

SMART Omega earns quarterfinal slot in CODM Worlds

SMART Omega

SMART Omega earned a spot in the postseason of the Call of Duty Mobile World Championships, which are being held at Raleigh, North Carolina.

They started off with a sweep of STMN eSports, taking a 250-213 win in Hardpoint, followed by a 12-10 victory in Search and Destroy. Capping things off for the Filipino side is a 3-0 win in Control over their European opposition. 

They followed that up with another sweep, this time against North American side NSYL Mayhem in the Winner's match. After holding to a 250-243 win in Hardpoint, Omega fended Mayhem off in Search and Destroy, 7-5, before completing the sweep with a 3-0 result in Control.

After topping Group A, the team is now guaranteed a top-eight finish as it heads for a quarterfinal matchup against SKADE. The Brazilian side dispatched the other Southeast Asian team in the field, Almighty of Singapore.

San Beda, PUP, UP sweep in PIBC afternoon session

De Guzman and Abang for PUP

San Beda and PUP are set for a Sunday morning matchup to determine the finalist from Group B in the SMART Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships, after both schools swept their opposition on Saturday afternoon at the Centro Atletico courts in Quezon City.

The Red Lions secured their second win in the tournament against RTU, with the men's doubles tandem of Timothy Santos and Laurence Alejo needed twenty minutes to defeat Bryant Pili and Rowell Pereda, 21-15 21-8.

John Niel Panganiban got things going in men's singles with a 21-4 21-8 win over Louise Anton de Leon, followed by Anniena Cruz's 21-19 21-10 victory in women's singles.

Clinching the sweep for the Mendiola-based squad are Dana Navarro and June Gimena's 21-4 21-4 win over Andrea Pajarillo and Jolina Miranda in women's doubles, followed by Ianah Belen and Kish Laboy's 21-9 21-7 rout against Ada Alfonzo and Adrian Ong in mixed doubles.

For PUP, John Oliver de Guzman and Kevin Abang clinch the tie with a 21-10 21-13 victory in men's doubles against TUP counterparts Allen Benamir and John Emmanuel Balgos.

In Group A, the University of the Philippines kept their record spotless after sweeping Adamson.

Michael Clemente and Paul Gonzales clinched the tie with a 21-15 21-14 win over Gabrielle Hernandez and Noel Ganoy.

The Fighting Maroons can clinch the top spot with a win over the University of Santo Tomas

Ateneo entered the win column with a 4-1 win over UST, as Arthur Salvado ensured the tie belongs to the Blue Eagles with a 21-13 21-10 triumph over Kyle Adiel Basilio.

In addition, Lyndon Laborte and Bryan Bernardo defeated Francis Sarmiento and Lanz Ramirez in men's doubles, 24-22 21-15.

The final group phase matches are scheduled on Sunday at 8 a.m., while the championship tie is scheduled at 1 p.m. between the respective group winners.

The tournament is organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, powered by SMART Communications, and supported by the MVP Sports Foundation, Ducksports, Young, and Apacs.

UP, San Beda, PUP open PIBC pool play with sweeps

Clemente and Gonzales for UP

The Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships opened on Saturday morning with its first set of pool play matches, highlighted by the University of the Philippines blanking Ateneo de Manila, 5-0 at the courts of Centro Atletico in Quezon City.

Michael Clemente and Paul Gonzales sealed the tie for the Fighting Maroons with a 21-9 21-15 win over Jacinto Maliwat and Arthur Salvado in men's doubles.

The highlight of the tie saw Anthea Gonzales stun Chanelle Lunod in women's singles with the rookie stunning the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, 23-21 21-19.

Fellow newcomer Kervin Llanes started things off with a 21-15 21-13 victory over Lynden Laborte, while capping the sweep for UP are Lea Inlayo and Susmita Ramos' 19-21 21-15 21-13 win over Jochelle Alvarez and Missy Cervantes in women's doubles and Jason Vanzuela and Althea Fuentespina's 21-15 20-22 21-15 victory over Bryan Bernardo and Maxene Olango in mixed doubles.

The other Group A match saw UST defeat Adamson, 4-1, with Elij Pena and Jennifer Baladaga sealing the tie in women's doubles after a 21-7 21-11 demolition of Ivy Plata and Althea Bartolazob.

In Group B, San Beda swept TUP 5-0, as Arjhay Lazareto and Laurence Alejo clinched the tie with a 21-7 21-8 victory over John Emmanuel Balgos and Eljohn Penalosa in men's doubles.

The other matchup also saw PUP sweep RTU, with the duo of John Oliver de Guzman and Kevin Abang ensuring the victory for the Mighty Maroons. They dispatched their Blue Thunder counterparts Bryant Pili and Sean Rejuso, 21-9 21-12.

The tournament is organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, powered by SMART Communications, and supported by the MVP Sports Foundation, Ducksports, Young, and Apacs.

SMART Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships set this weekend

SMART PIBC Pools

The first-ever SMART Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships will commence this weekend, September 10 and 11, at the courts of Centro Atletico in Quezon City.

Eight institutions from three leagues have been invited, with the field being split into two pools that will face off in the mixed team-tie format.

Pool A is comprised of the four participating UAAP schools: Adamson, the Ateneo de Manila, the University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas.

Pool B features the lone NCAA participant in San Beda, followed by SCUAA stalwarts Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Rizal Technological University, and Technological University of the Philippines.

Philippine Badminton Association vice president Jude Turcuato shares, "It was a good response from these universities and colleges that they have decided to join this inaugural tournament. We hope that this could build something in the years to come."

Saturday will feature two sets of matchups, with the 8am fixture seeing UP-Ateneo, UST-Adamson in Group A and San Beda-TUP and PUP-RTU, followed by the 1pm fixtures comprised of UP-Adamson, UST-Ateneo, San Beda-RTU, and PUP-TUP.

The final set of preliminary matches will see UP-UST, Ateneo-Adamson, San Beda-PUP, and RTU-TUP on Sunday at 8am.

Teams finishing at the top of their respective pools will face off for the championship at 1pm that day.

The tournament is organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, powered by SMART Communications, and supported by the MVP Sports Foundation, Ducksports, and Apacs.

SMART Sports to broadcast Ateneo games in Israel

Tab Baldwin

With the UAAP a month away, its member-schools have ramped up their preparations for their men's basketball tournament.

Ateneo de Manila is no different, as the Blue Eagles have flown to Tel Aviv to hold their overseas camp, with the objective of rebuilding the side that lost in the finals last year to the University of the Philippines.

Head coach Tab Baldwin shares, "We only have a couple of games. We are going there to flesh out our system even more. We need more offensive attacks and defensive sophistication."

The team has a simple objective in the Holy Land, just to be better.

"Just got to get a lot better. We have had such a disruptive buildup in June and July because of injuries. Ange [Kouame] just came back, Dave [Ildefonso] has only been back a couple of weeks. Same with Matthew Daves," Baldwin says.

He adds, "We don't have settled rosters and combinations that are used to working together. We have to get better and time is running."

The Israel camp will have a couple of friendly matches, both against second-division Liga Leumit sides.

The first one will be against A.S. Ramat HaSharon at 1030pm on Saturday, with the other one coming a couple of days later against Eliztur Eito Ashkelon at 9pm.

These matches will be streamed on the Facebook page of SMART Sports.

Ateneo's preparations for the upcoming season saw them claim the inaugural World University Basketball Series in Tokyo, as well as a defeat to the Bay Area Dragons of the East Asia Super League.

Ken Tuffin's Wellington debut to be shown through SMART Sports

Ken Tuffin x SMART Sports

SMART Sports is reaffirming its commitment to Ken Tuffin, as he makes his return to action for the upcoming Sal's New Zealand - National Basketball League season.

Tuffin changed sides in the offseason, getting the chance to play for his hometown Wellington after averaging 9.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and almost an assist for the Taranaki Mountainairs last year.

He shares, "It's always been a dream to play for my hometown Wellington. Our assistant Coach Kenny (current Saints assistant Kenny McFadden) was the one who introduced me to the game. Furthermore, Coach Kenny was there in the camp when FEU first came over to scout and recruit me in 2015."

Wellington will open their campaign against the Otaga Nuggets at 330pm, with the broadcast to be streamed on SMART Sports' Facebook page. The 2019 champions skipped the shortened 2020 season, and they are excited to return with a vengeance.

With the Saints, Tuffin will be alongside Taane Samuel and Dion Prewster. Local basketball fans will be familar with the former thanks to his brief stint as a student-athlete at De La Salle University. In addition, the team will be reinforced by a couple of G League veterans in Romaro Gill and Kerwin Roach.

On what he can contribute to his new squad, the former Tamaraw says, "I know my role playing alongside elite one-on-one players like our imports and our captain Dion Prewster. I will always be there to shoot and play D, just picking my spots to shine." He adds, "The Saints are a dominant team.  and anything less than a title is considered a disappointment. My goal is to be a star in my role for the champions."

Tuffin also says, "I'm really appreciative that SMART can broadcast the games for my friends, family, and supporters back home to watch. Thanks to everyone and want to make you proud."

NBA, SMART relaunch NBA.com/Philippines

The NBA and SMART further solidified its partnership earlier this week, with the relaunch of NBA.com/Philippines.

The site is the league's official digital destination in the country, and complements what the league already has with SMART: from NBA League Pass being made available to its subscribers, to the over-the-top service NBA.Smart, which streams NBA TV Philippines, the localized version of the 24/7 dedicated channel.

Under the editorial leadership of Mico Halili, NBA.com/Philippines will provide Filipino fans specialized content, including recaps and analysis from notable members of the Filipino basketball community. It also includes a weekly podcast called "NBA Hype Squad," which will feature discussions from local influencers.

NBA Asia Head of Global Content and Media Distribution Ramez Sheikh shares, "We’re excited to partner with Smart and relaunch NBA.com/Philippines as we continue to expand our digital footprint in the country. Through our redesigned destination, fans will be able to connect with their favorite teams and players through instant access to NBA news and original content."

SMART President and CEO Alfredo Panlilio adds, "This is a huge milestone not only for Smart, but also for Filipino fans who now have a dedicated new platform to follow their idols, stay up-to-date on games, and engage with fans who share the same passion for hardcourt action. NBA.com/Philippines bolsters our line-up of NBA offerings for Smart subscribers, which embodies our “It’s all here” campaign tagline and reflects our commitment to bringing the world’s premier basketball league closer to fans nationwide."

For SMART subscribers, no data charges will be incurred in accessing the site. They already have an ongoing promotion for NBA League Pass, thanks to a PhP 485 monthly package and a PhP 85 3-Game Choice package. NBA LP provides the most comprehensive live and on-demand access to NBA games this season, all of which coming in high definition and live stats and additional camera angles, including NBA Mobile View, which is tailored for fans who use it on their mobile devices.

In addition, SMART prepaid subscribers can watch the livestream of NBA TV Philippines by taking advantage of certain data packages. Dial *123# and choose GIGA VIDEO 99 and register their mobile and ticket number on nba.smart. Said promotion provides 1GB to watch videos on NBA League Pass, YouTube, and Cignal Play, as well as an additional 2GB data weekly.

Smart, FIBA formalize four-year global partnership

 

New collab.

As announced, Smart Communications, Inc. confirmed its global partnership with FIBA for the next four years.

The partnership sees FIBA grant exclusive rights to SMART for the telecommunications worldwide. It also enables key commercial rights across all FIBA competitions, including the upcoming Qualifying Tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the various Continental Cups and Youth Cups, as well as the two biggest national team competitions in the FIBA World Cup for women in 2022 and the men in 2023.

Speaking of the FIBA World Cup, which the Philippines is co-hosting alongside Japan and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10, SMART is looking to tap into its experience using 5G technology it first utilized during the Philippine Basketball Association's All-Filipino Cup that took place at the bubble inside Clark.

The aforementioned bubbled showcased TV cameras equipped with 5G to help capture the on-court action efficiently. A 94-foot-wide LED screen beside the court allows the players to see spectators, which has been temporarily not allowed to be present in-person due to the pandemic. Smart has also pioneered the use of wireless 360 cameras powered by 5G in the PBA bubble.

Both FIBA and SMART are expected to work together to create a wide array of exciting experiences both athletes and fans can partake worldwide in the run-up as well as in the competition proper.

SMART will also support FIBA's latest campaign, the "Don't Miss A Beat Challenge." Athletes from Gilas Pilipinas, as well as from recent PBA AFC finalists TNT Tropang Giga, the NLEX Road Warriors, NCAA Season 95 runners-up San Beda, and UAAP Season 82 champions Ateneo de Manila University will participate in the challenge, with celebrities also getting involved.

PLDT Chairman and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan shares, "I hope all of us will take pride and joy in not only seeing the World Cup logo but in hosting the World Cup. With Christmas just around the corner, and the pandemic still looming over us, it's great to have good news that will lift our spirits."

PLDT Chief Revenue Officer, SMART President and CEO, and newly-minted Philippine Olympic Committee First Vice President Alfredo S. Panlilio adds, "This is a huge step in bringing our athletes closer to the world stage. PLDT and Smart have always been at the forefront when it comes to supporting Filipino athletes and their journey to greatness."

FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis had this to say about the partnership: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Smart Communications Inc. as a FIBA Global Partner. Joining forces with a leading telecommunications company such as Smart will bring unrivalled opportunities in the lead up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Giving our fans the best ever experience, whether at home or in arenas, is a crucial aspect of any FIBA event, and even more so for this showcase competition. We are looking forward to working with Smart to harness their state-of-the-art technologies and 5G capabilities to deliver the most connected and engaging FIBA Basketball World Cup to date."

UAAP formalizes new partnership with Cignal TV and SMART, set forth plans for future growth

The deal is signed. UAAP, Cignal TV, and SMART now partners for the next five years.

A new era for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

The league on Thursday formally entered into a partnership with the country's top Pay TV provider in Cignal TV, as well as with the country's leading mobile services provider SMART Communications, with the goal of shining the spotlight on the numerous student-athletes that participate in its numerous events.

To celebrate this upcoming multi-year partnership, a memorandum of agreement signing took place at the PLDT headquarters in Makati.

Representing the UAAP are Board of Trustees Chairman Bro. Raymundo Suplico, FSC, Season 83 President Emmanuel Calanog, Vice President Fr. Aldrin Suan, Treasurer and Chairman of the Negotiating Panel Edwin Reyes, and Executive Director Rebo Saguisag, with members of the UAAP Board of Managing Directors also in attendance.

Representing Cignal TV and SMART are PLDT Chairman and President Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT Group Chief Revenue Officer and SMART Communications President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio, SMART Communications SVP and Consumer Business - Wireless Head Jane J. Basas, and Cignal TV and TV5 President and CEO Robert P. Galang.

The UAAP's broadcast rights had been with ABS-CBN for the last couple of decades, before the embattled company made the decision not to pursue a new deal earlier this year. It was during this tenure that the league rose to prominence in the current sports landscape.

As the league's official Philippine broadcast partner, Cignal TV will broadcast the games live via its free-to-air channel One Sports. For SMART, they will be streaming the games live through an exclusive platform available for its pre- and post-paid subscribers, an approach that was similarly used when they broadcast the NBA games inside the Disney campus earlier this year.

Galang shares, "Our joint venture with the UAAP goes beyond being an official broadcast partner. Together with providing a superior viewing experience for all sports fans nationwide, we have put in place plans to help further grow the league and its athletes — giving more depth to our partnership." He also adds, "We are confident that this undertaking will inspire and revitalize our countrymen who have such a deep affinity for sports. From the Cignal team, and the rest of the MVP group, it is with great pleasure that we welcome the UAAP, and we are extremely excited to begin our partnership."

Panlilio says, "Our partnership with UAAP opens a lot of groundbreaking opportunities to further expand the digital footprint of the country's biggest collegiate league while we leverage on the strength of our Smart LTE and 5G networks to give viewers an amazing mobile streaming experience. Through the power of digital technology, we hope to inspire more Filipino youth to discover and cultivate their passion for sports and strive for excellence."

Aside from securing broadcast rights, both Cignal TV and SMART have committed to continuously grow the popularity of the UAAP and its student-athletes through various activities within the league's member schools, allowing it to extend such an engagement to the students.

Bro. Suplico had this to say about their partnership: "The partnership with Cignal TV and Smart will continue to bring the UAAP closer to the students and alumni of the member schools as well as the general public. We are grateful for this opportunity to showcase and highlight UAAP’s values, especially, promoting amateur sportsmanship and the well-rounded development of our student athletes, through the various platforms of Cignal TV and Smart."

The league had recently announced that it is shelving its 83rd season due to the pandemic, allowing all parties to better focus on their preparations for the 84th season this coming September 2021. In spite of the cancellation, all three parties remain committed in bringing the top high school and collegiate league back at the earliest possible time.

FIBA enters into exclusive partnership with SMART

FIBA on Thursday announced an exclusive global partnership with Smart, one that will last until the end of 2023.

The partnership was revealed through a virtual press conference between both parties and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, which is one of the co-hosts of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The deal assures SMART of key commercial rights across all FIBA competitions throughout its deal, which includes the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, the different FIBA Continental Cups, the FIBA Youth World Cups, and both Basketball World Cups (women in 2022, men in 2023).

With the use of SMART's 5G in the recent All-Filipino Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association, the Philippines' leading mobile services provider will lend their technological know-how to FIBA as well in the lead up to, and during the upcoming FIBA World Cup. Their cooperation is also expected to provide a wide array of exciting experiences for the athletes and the fans worldwide.

Representing FIBA in the announcement is its Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis, while wearing both hats in the press conference are Manuel V. Pangilinan (PLDT Chairman, SBP Chairman Emeritus, FIBA Central Board Member) and Alfredo S. Panlilio (SMART President and CEO, SBP President).

MVP shares, "Our partnership with FIBA is a milestone for the whole nation, just as it is for our company. Through Smart's mobile innovations, we look forward to introducing immersive digital experiences that will bring hardcourt action to the fingertips of basketball fans around the world and connect us all in our love for the sport."

Panlilio adds, "This is a huge step in bringing our athletes closer to the world stage. Smart has always been at the forefront when it comes to supporting Filipino athletes and their journey to greatness."

Zagklis shares, "We are extremely pleased to welcome Smart Communications as a FIBA Global Partner. Joining forces with a leading telecommunications company such as Smart will bring unrivalled opportunities in the lead up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Giving our fans the best ever experience, whether at home or in arenas, is a crucial aspect of any FIBA event, and even more so for this flagship competition. We are looking forward to working with Smart to harness their state-of-the-art technologies and 5G capabilities to deliver the most connected and engaging FIBA Basketball World Cup to date."

SMART Omega to hold special eSports exhibition with select sports stars

SMART Omega

Even with their ongoing participation in the second season of The Nationals, SMART Omega eSports keep themselves busy with some change-of-pace action, as they continue their preparations for the upcoming M2 World Championships.

The squad, who finished second in the sixth season of MPL-Philippines, invited select student-athletes, as well as players from Spikers' Turf side PLDT Home Fibr to join them in for a set of exhibition matches, called the Omega Crossover.

According to SMART Omega team manager Miko Cuartero, "We want showcase that everyone can be a gamer no matter what sport you play. We also want to show how mobile gaming can bring everyone together."

Set to take place from December 13 to 15, the showpiece exhibition will feature two members of SMART Omega, two student-athletes, and an Ultra Fast Hitter in one team. The composition of the teams will be made in random. On the 15th, all players will be live at Omega's state-of-the-art hub in Quezon City.

Set to participate in the Omega Crossover are SJ Belangel and Dave Ildefonso of Ateneo, Shaun Ildefonso and Chino Mosqueda of National University, Kevin Quiambao and Emman Galman of La Salle, and Kemark Carino and Joshua Tagala of San Beda.

Representing PLDT Home Fibr are John Vic De Guzman, Mark Alfafara, Joshua Umandal, and Richard Solis.

Comprising SMART Omega are "Toshi" Adrian Bacallo, "Haze" Jeniel Bata-anon, "Heath" Earvin Esperanza, "Hadjizy" Salic Imam, "KurTzy" Jankurt Matira, "Kenji" Kenneth Villa, "Daledalus" Steven Vitug, and "Otit" Anthony Senedrin.

The event will be streamed on SMART Omega's Facebook page, with the matches taking place at 5pm and 730pm.

NBA enters into partnership with CIGNAL, SMART for broadcast rights in the Philippines

NBA + Cignal + SMART = 2019-2020 NBA season on Philippine TV

Top-quality basketball will make its return to Philippine television.

The National Basketball Association on Monday unveiled a multi-year partnerships with Cignal TV, Inc., as well as SMART Communications, Inc, letting the latter two entities deliver NBA games and programming to Filipino fans, whether it is through free-to-air or satellite television or over-the-top streaming.

The partnership begins this Friday, July 31, with the seeding games, as the NBA restarts its 2019-20 season inside the Disney complex in Florida. Select seeding games and playoff games from the first and second rounds will be shown on TV5 and ONE Sports, with both channels also showing the Conference Finals in their entirety. TV5 also becomes the exclusive home of the NBA Finals.

Cignal is also set to launch a new channel as a result of their partnership with the NBA. Called NBA TV Philippines, it serves as a localized version of NBA TV, which is the NBA's dedicated 24/7 channel. NBA TV Philippines will feature live games and original programming in high definition.

Already in partnership with the NBA with regards to the distribution of League Pass, the NBA's premium live game subscription service, SMART expands on that partnership to also enable NBA TV Philippines to be streamed through its new over-the-top service that is exclusive to its paid subscribers. SMART is also set to revive NBA.com/Philippines later this year. The site is considered as the league's official digital destination in the country, and aside from providing highlights, schedules, scores, and stats, as well as features and analysis from its roster of sports journalists.

NBA Asia Managing Director Scott Levy shares, "The NBA restart is set against a uniquely challenging moment in time for our fans in the Philippines, who are among the most passionate and dedicated NBA supporters in the world. We are excited to partner with Cignal and Smart to bring NBA games to a nationwide audience, and we hope to play a role in lifting the spirits of Filipinos by bringing our fans together through their shared love of the game."

Cignal TV President and CEO Robert Galang adds, "We at Cignal TV are extremely thrilled to bring the world’s biggest basketball league back to every Filipino home. Our partnership with the NBA is a huge milestone in our mission to bring the best content to our viewers and subscribers.  With three channels broadcasting the games, Filipinos now have the chance to experience the NBA live on free TV channels TV5 and ONE Sports, and on Cignal TV’s NBA TV Philippines in high definition.  The game we all love is now truly home."

SMART President and CEO Alfredo Panlilio says, "As some of the world’s biggest basketball fans, the hunger for live basketball action is in our DNA. This is why we at Smart could not contain our excitement as we partner with the NBA to bring the world’s premier basketball league to the fingertips of Filipinos.  This reinforces our commitment to bring amazing experiences through technology made simple by Smart."

Aligned with the upcoming NBA restart and to celebrate the new partnership, Cignal is set to launch "The Game You Love is Home" campaign, highlighting the availability of NBA TV Philippines on select prepaid and postpaid plans.

For updates about the new partnership in their respective perspectives, one can check out www.cignal.tv (Cignal) and www.smart.com.ph (SMART), as well as in their respective social media platforms.

As for broadcast schedules, make sure to check out the social media platforms of TV5, ONE Sports, and Cignal TV, as well as NBA Philippines.

BREN eSports, Sunsparks advance in MPL-PH Season 5 Upper Bracket

BREN eSports and Sunsparks took contrasting routes heading into their upcoming matchup in the upper bracket portion of the SMART-Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League-Philippines Season 5 postseason on Friday.

BREN eSports escaped a scare from fourth seeds Execration, almost losing Game 1 and losing Game 2, before claiming the Game 3 decider.

Ch4knu (Grock) proved to be a major thorn for the top seeds, continuously invading BREN's jungle to provide the fourth seeds the upper hand initially.

Execration would then establish a 28,482 to 21,403 edge in gold at the nine-minute mark, as well as a 10-5 kill advantage, while also securing the lord in their favor.

However, the BREN quintet of KarlTzy (Ling), Ribo (Angela), Lastii (Atlas), Coco (Carmilla), and Pheww (Kaja) put up a huge defensive stand in the middle lane, erasing E2MAX (Selena), Z4pnu (Uranus), Hate (Lancelot), Bennyqt (Helcurt), and Ch4knu to neutralize Execration's kill advantage.

BREN would then slowly tilt the matchup in their favor, although Execration did not make that easy with Z4pnu and Ch4knu cutting the lanes. BREN would secure the matchup after Lastii performed a four-man fatal link to counter Execration's initiation.

KarlTzy finished with 24 kills, eleven assists and two deaths, while Ribo tacked on three kills and 28 assists.

Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno shared afterwards, "Siguro [lamang] lang kami sa disiplina, saka sa decision making at experience na lang din po kaya kami naka-lamang sa kanila."

Hate led the way for Execration with nine kills, three assists, and eight deaths.

As for Sunsparks, they continued their mastery of ONIC PH, dispatching them 2-1 in their matchup.

The defending champions dropped the opening game, but they managed to bounce back by taking the next two games to book a seat in the upper bracket finals.

Jaypee (Ling) led the way for Sunsparks with five kills and four assists. Killuash added a couple of kills and assists.

The BREN eSports vs Sunsparks matchup will take place tomorrow at 5pm, while both Execration and ONIC PH await their lower bracket opposition. The former will face the winner of BSB and Blacklist International at 2pm, while the latter will face the winner of SGD-Omega and ULVL at 330pm.

Postseason for MPL-PH Season 5, ready for takeoff

MPL-PH Season 5 participating teams

An exciting weekend awaits for eSports fans this weekend, with the eight participating teams in Season 5 of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League - Philippines heading into the postseason.

Not even the presence of COVID-19 could completely put the MPL-PH to a grinding halt, with the playoffs set to take place starting May 29.

Defending champions Sunsparks seek to retain the title against the likes of Bren Esports, Execration, and ONIC PH in the upper bracket, while the other four participating teams (ULVL, SGD Omega, BSB, and Blacklist International) are in "win-or-go-home" mode at the lower bracket.

MPL-PH playoff format

The champion gets rewarded with $25,000.

The tournament is powered by SMART Telecommunications, Inc. and supported by realme.

Fans can watch the tournament online through these links:

Facebook Live

Tagalog Stream - https://www.facebook.com/MobileLegendsOnlinePH/
English Stream - https://www.facebook.com/MLESPORTS/

YouTube Gaming

Tagalog Stream - http://bit.ly/MLBBEsportsYTB
English Stream - http://bit.ly/MLBBENYTB

In addition, lucky viewers get a chance to win special prizes in the Mythical Raffle Draw. All they need to do is register via the link provided on the livestream. Nine in-game Legendary Prize packs (each pack includes ten EPIC skins and five Lightborn skins) and one in-game Mythical Prize pack (includes four Legend skins, five Lightborn skins, and 36 Epic skins) await the winners.