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Women's Sports

Sharks still in search of first victory

Oct 18, 2026

Chonburi remain without a win this season after a 2-1 home defeat by PT Prachuap in Thai League 1 on Saturday night, despite a change of head coach.

Oct 18, 2026

PVL: Rookie Lams Lamina off to unfamiliar start with Galeries

MANILA, Philippines — Galeries Tower’s No. 1 overall pick Lams Lamina was welcomed by a big change in the pros after she started her Premier Volleyball League (PVL) career with back-to-back losses in the All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series. Facing Alas Pilipinas setter and idol Jia De Guzman, Lamina and the High Risers scored a big

Oct 18, 2026

Eala faces tough opening test in Ningbo

FILIPINA netter Alex Eala is set to unleash her full strength to snap her recent slump as she returns to action at the Ningbo Open, which kicks off on Monday at the Ningbo Yinzhou Tennis Center. Based on the official draw released by tournament organizers, Eala will first face France’s Diane Parry in the opening round of the WTA 500 event. The match between Eala and Parry is scheduled for 12 noon. This is their first-ever meeting on the WTA Tour. Also looming in Eala’s draw are potential matchups against world No. 13 Diana Shnaider of Russia in the second round, world No. 11 Iva Jovic of the United States in the quarterfinals, and defending champion and world No. 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the semifinals. Eala is aiming to bounce back at the Ningbo Open following a string of early exits across three consecutive tournaments. Her rough stretch began at the Singapore Open, where she was s hown an early exit after falling to Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova (6-4, 5-7, 3-6) in the opening round. This was followed by another setback against eventual champion Wang Xiyu of China in the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 3-6. Eala’s frustration deepened when she suffered another early elimination at the Wuhan Open in China, absorbing a 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 defeat against China’s Han Shi in the first round. All three players who defeated Eala hold lower WTA rankings. Moreover, a recurring pattern marked the Filipina netter’s losses, where she would win the first set only to fall short in the final two frames. To ensure she is in top shape before stepping onto the court, Eala immediately went straight to intensive training upon arriving in Ningbo.

Oct 18, 2026

San Beda eyes to finish crossover round on high note

DEFENDING champion San Beda University aims to carry momentum into the next round when it faces Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in the crossover round of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Monday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. San Beda holds a 5-3 win-loss record and needs to win over EAC (3-5) at 3 p.m. to improve its rankings in Group A, as Mapua (5-3) eyes to extend its winning-streak to six when it faces the winless San Sebastian (0-8) at 5 p.m. The Red Lions gun to bounce back from a tight loss over Arellano University, 55-56, before entering the final four games in the group round. Aldous Torculas showed out for the Red Lions with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Daniel Marcelo added 10 markers and five rebounds in a hard-fought clash over Arellano. If San Beda wants to head to the final group stage round with a victory, the team needs more help from Jomel Puno and RC Calming as EAC would not back down the fight quickly. The Generals scored a huge victory over the Benilde Blazers, 86-78, showing that they are also tough contenders in Group B. EAC relied on Joseph Nunag’s 17-point scoring and Wilmar Oftana’s 15-point effort. Head coach Jerson Cabiles expressed that they preferred being underdogs and understood that they needed to double up their efforts to reach their goal. “Scoring a win over Benilde, of course, we are the underdogs, and it’s a good win. It’s about the drive and the hard work of the players. And we will continue working towards our goal,” the head tactician in Filipino. With both teams playing their last game in the crossover round, the NCAA format showed that they will return to the group stage, facing their bracket opponents once more. The top two teams will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, while the middle team (slated at third seed), needs to win twice in the quarterfinals to keep their chances alive. The two bottom teams will head to the play-in round. After their clash, Mapua University looks to overpower the only remaining winless team in the NCAA, San Sebastian. Mapua holds a five-game winning streak, with Cyrus Cuenco firing from all cylinders and serving as the anchor of the team. San Sebastian is still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, and looks to bank on Ralph Gabat, who put up a fight in a slim 77-78 loss against Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Ateneo thumps UPIS for first win

Oct 18, 2026

ATENEO de Manila University finally broke through, turning home-court advantage into its first win of the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys’ 16-and-under Basketball Tournament with a 100-80 victory over University of the Philippines Integrated School on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym. The Blue Eagles, who lost to their Katipunan rivals on a game-winning triple in their first-round meeting, exacted revenge and snapped their winless start to the season. The victory also offered Ateneo a measure of redemption after its 34-77 blowout loss to Far Eastern University-Diliman last Thursday. “We’re so blessed. Breaks went our way. These guys, sila ‘yung gumawa. They worked hard for it. Even in practice yesterday, so it started there, we just translated it into the game,” said Ateneo head coach Jeff Mangubat. Ateneo broke away in the second quarter, capitalizing on UPIS’ shooting woes and attacking the paint for easy baskets to take a comfortable 55-37 lead into halftime. Led by Jayden Ylen, the Blue Eagles extended their advantage to 23 points in the third quarter, unleashing a 14-3 run with three minutes remaining in the period. The Fighting Maroons, however, mounted a comeback in the final canto, trimming the deficit to single digits midway through the fourth quarter. Despite UPIS’ late surge, Ateneo remained composed, limiting its opponents to just two points in the final five minutes as the Blue Eagles sealed the victory with a decisive 15-2 run. Ylen delivered an all-around performance with 22 points, seven rebounds, six steals, and five assists. Diego Nuque-Bautista also scored 22 points on an efficient 10-of-13 shooting clip, adding five rebounds and four steals. Chris Llavore came close to a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Karl Gandionco chipped in 11 points. The Blue Eagles capitalized on UPIS’ 35 turnovers, scoring 42 points off their opponents’ miscues.

Titles, GM norms at stake in Asean

Oct 18, 2026

DIRECT Grandmaster, International Master, WGM and WIM titles and norms will be at stake when the Philippines host three strong international tournaments next month starting with the 7th Asean+ Individual Chess Championships set Nov. 2 to 10 at the Amorap in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental. The open and women’s champions of the Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Sr.-financed and Asean Chess Confederation-sanctioned meet will clinch the GM and WGM crowns while the runners up of both sections earn IM and WIM titleist, which will still be subject to applicable FIDE title regulations and tournament requirements. A slew of Filipinos IMs headed by Jem Garcia, Pau Bersamina, Michael Concio Jr., MJ Bacojo and Christian Gian Karlo Arca are chasing glory of becoming the country’s newest GM since Daniel Quizon became a full-pledged GM in the Budapest Olympiad two years ago. Chasing the WGM crown are Filipinas and Olympiad veterans Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Shania Mae Mendoza and Ruelle Canino, who are expected to be tested in the field that will be led by WGMs Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam, WGM Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul of Mongolia, and Filipina WGM Janelle Mae Frayna. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines also announced that the champions in the Under 10, U12 and U14 boys and girls divisions will be awarded direct National Master titles and will represent the country in next year’s Asian Schools Championship. The other competitions scheduled the same month are the Misamis Occidental Philippine International Championship slated Nov. 10-17 also at the Amorap and the AQ Prime International Open Chess Championship set Nov. 17-25 in Quezon City. There, direct FIDE and WFM titles and GM, IM, WGM and WIM norms will also be at stake.

Oct 18, 2026

PH athletes begin Asian Para Games bid

RIDING the momentum of a historic campaign at the 20th Asian Games, a determined delegation of 69 Filipino athletes is primed and ready to conquer the podium at the 5th Asian Para Games, which officially kicked off on Sunday at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. Despite losing chess — an event that accounted for eight of the country’s 10 gold medals during the 2023 edition in Hangzhou — Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) President Mike Barredo remains intensely optimistic about the nation's medal prospects, emphasizing that the team's drive and readiness remain at an all-time high. "They made sure chess was not included because we would surely win. But I pushed for it. We forced it through," Barredo said, acknowledging the deliberate hurdle while doubling down on the team's fighting spirit. With full backing from the PSC, the national contingent is locked in to make up for the absence of their former powerhouse event. The Philippines is set to contest 11 sports, including swimming, athletics, cycling, table tennis, and taekwondo. Coaching staff share the strong outlook that the country’s representatives are physically and mentally equipped to mix it up with Asia's elite. “Skills-wise, we are right there. As we’ve seen during training, the consistency is there. No complaints,” noted Para taekwondo coach Gershon Bautista. While powerhouse China remains the ultimate hurdle — having dominated the 2023 medal table with 214 golds — the Philippine contingent is motivated to eclipse their previous ninth-place overall finish. This hunger for success follows closely behind the able-bodied national team's stellar 29-medal harvest at the recent Asian Games, the country's best performance since 1966. Barredo emphasized that the steady growth of local para sports serves as a testament to the athletes' relentless pursuit of excellence. Looking beyond the Nagoya campaign, the PPC is aggressively pushing for grassroots integration — including efforts to include para events in the Batang Pinoy — to ensure a continuous pipeline of medal contenders for future international stages.

Oct 18, 2026

Durant fires back at Suns owner Ishbia

PHOENIX — Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia had a spat on social media Saturday (Sunday in Manila) after Durant took issue with Ishbia’s description of the 16-time All-Star’s tenure with the Suns during a recent television interview. In an appearance on CNBC Sport, Ishbia said that he “threw money at the problem” when dealing for Durant in 2023 and that “bringing in super talented players like Kevin Durant doesn’t necessarily lead to championships.” Durant took issue with that characterization. “#blamekd even though KD stayed on top of his game at 36 and got u back this “culture” you love so much. Aye, Matthew acts like I got arrested for a DUI or sumn. Back to threads,” Durant posted. Ishbia responded with his own message, saying “You obviously didn’t watch the clip. Didn’t blame you @Kdtrey5, but am happy with the culture we are building here in Phoenix. We got the right guys and right focus now and are excited for this season. Good luck this season in Houston.” Durant had one more response, writing “U should be giving Thanks every chance u get. You don’t have to pay me an absurd amount of money to play for another team.” Just days after Ishbia bought the Suns for $4 billion in 2023, the organization dealt for Durant in a blockbuster trade that the owner hoped would lead to a championship. While Durant played well personally, the team results were disappointing. Phoenix made it to the second round of the playoffs in 2023, got swept in the first round in 2024 and didn’t even make the playoffs in 2025. Durant was traded to the Rockets during the ensuing offseason. Ishbia retooled the organization in the aftermath, hiring Brian Gregory as the general manager and Jordan Ott as the head coach. The Suns were expected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA last season, but finished with a 45-37 record and made the first round of the playoffs with a core that included Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. “It was not aligned with my vision,” Ishbia said of Durant’s tenure. “We had a couple years and it did not succeed as we’re well aware of at this point. After that year, I decided to trade Kevin Durant, bring in my GM, bring in a coach and get extremely involved personally with the type of guy and type of person we want in the organization. Not just on the court but off the court. “I’m not saying it’s Kevin Durant or not Kevin Durant, but here’s what I will say. It is Dillon Brooks. It is Jordan Goodwin. It is Collin Gillespie... of course, Devin Booker. We’ve defined what matters to us.” AP

Unstoppable Barca extends perfect start in La Liga

Oct 18, 2026

SEVILLE, Spain — Hansi Flick’s dominant Barcelona routed 10-man Real Betis 5-2 on Saturday to return five points clear at the top of La Liga. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal scored a brilliant goal for the Spanish champions, with Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo also finding the net at La Cartuja stadium in Seville. Betis, third, had Facundo Bernal sent off for a headbutt on Yamal early in the second half of a pulsating clash. Barca set a new club record for victories at the start of a league campaign and equalled the all-time record of nine, set by Real Madrid in the 1968/69 season. Flick’s side boast 11 wins from 11 games across all competitions. “Once again the team has shown its attacking potential, but it’s also true we’re giving quite a bit away, and that’s probably where the improvement has to come from too,” Rodri told DAZN. Earlier Atletico, second, snatched a late 1-0 win at Espanyol and are five points behind Barca, while Betis are eight points adrift of the leaders and Real Madrid, fourth, host Sevilla on Sunday. Betis rested several players, including key midfielder Isco, ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Feyenoord. Manuel Pellegrini’s side still gave Barca a stern test, after the Catalan giants went ahead through a sensational Yamal strike in the 10th minute. The 19-year-old turned sharply on the edge of the box to escape Bernal and then exquisitely curled into the top corner. “(It was) an incredible goal, we’ve got used to him doing this lately, I have to say,” added Rodri. “In the end, players like that make the difference. But I try to focus on the other things he brings... (like) hard work, a lot of solidarity with the team, understanding the game and where he could find space.”

Oct 18, 2026

Chacarra takes lead as McIlroy fades in Delhi

NEW DELHI, India — Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra will take a two-shot lead into an extended final day as a faltering Rory McIlroy fell away at the weather-hit DP World India Championship on Saturday. Chacarra, who won the Hero Indian Open earlier this year, was 14-under after his incomplete third round at Delhi Golf Club. Although the weather was much improved, play was held up by nearly five hours on day one leaving the European Tour event playing serious catch-up. Chacarra along with six-time major champion McIlroy finished their second rounds earlier in the day. The Spaniard, second in the Race to Dubai, has seven holes to play in his third round going into the final day, when good weather is expected. Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, after two good opening days, slipped badly with four bogeys and a double bogey in his incomplete third round. He clawed back ground with an eagle on the 14th but was two-over with three holes to go in round three. He was four-under overall and tied 40th. Dutchman Joost Luiten and Spain’s Angel Hidalgo are two shots behind Chacarra at 12-under. New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, Pole Adrian Meronk and Scotland’s Scott Jamieson are another shot back. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood was tied 11th at nine-under after completing his third round on a long day for the Englishman.