AsiaLogue - Women's Sports

Women's Sports

Tiu: Earlington fits Phoenix’s needs

Oct 4, 2026

PHOENIX coach Charles Tiu believes incoming new import Marcellus Earlington provides what the team needs as the Fuel Masters step up their playoff drive when the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup resumes on Oct. 7. The long break saw Phoenix let go of original import BJ Johnson, who went on to sign with Parma BC in the Russian pro league. The 30-year-old Johnson logged in do-it-all numbers of 30.71 points, 9.57 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game to help Phoenix register a 4-3 record for joint second to third spots in Group B before the league went on a two-month break. The conference break though was a blessing in disguise as the Fuel Masters had time to find Johnson’s replacement in Earlington. “He’s doing alright,” Tiu said, in describing Earlington, who played college basketball for St. John’s and San Diego. “He is an inside player and gives us more balance against having another wing player.” The 26-year-old Earlington averaged solid numbers of 22.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists for Ironi Nahariya in the Israeli National league. The American reinforcement played for the Fuel Masters, who dropped a narrow 83-80 decision to Mongolian squad Omni Erdenet Miners recently in their friendly game at Activate Hoop Arena in Mandaluyong City. Tiu said they’ve been working on playing solid defense as a team, knowing that playoff-bound squads do more than just outscore its opponents. “We need to defend better, play together and find a way to show that we really are a playoff team,” stressed Tiu, whose team tries to improve on its quarterfinal finish from the Commissioner’s Cup. “We have a very tough schedule against everyone fighting for the playoffs so we need to show that we belong,” he added. Phoenix won’t see action till Oct. 16 when Tiu’s charges battle Meralco at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Oct 4, 2026

La Salle downs UE in bounce-back win

DE La Salle University overwhelmed the University of the East, 70-55, to secure its first win in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. After dropping their opening game against Far Eastern University last Wednesday, the Lady Archers improved to 1-1, while the Lady Warriors fell to 0-2 and suffered their 26th consecutive loss dating back to Season 87. “It’s a good character win for us that we came back from a loss, especially our first game. I’m not sure if it was the same team in the first game that I was coaching,” said DLSU head coach Cholo Villanueva. “It was just a far different team from that last game, and this is how we looked in the preseason. Because of the UAAP jitters, it’s a different environment so everybody is adjusting to the game, to the arenas, and the environment.” The Lady Archers came out firing, cruising to an 11-2 start before UE responded with a 5-0 run capped by Kristine Dalguntas’ triple to trim the deficit to six, 22-16, at the end of the opening frame. UE refused to let La Salle pull away in the second quarter, with Roshelle Lumibao’s midrange jumper giving the Lady Warriors their first lead of the game at 29-28. However, the momentum did not last long, as the Lady Archers answered with an 11-1 closing run to reclaim a 39-30 advantage at halftime. La Salle weathered every attempt from UE to claw its way back, maintaining a double-digit cushion throughout the third quarter before Bukky Ojo’s layup stretched the Lady Archers’ lead to 17, 55-38, heading into the final frame. DLSU continued to hound the Lady Warriors in the fourth quarter, limiting UE to just 15 points as the Lady Archers cruised to a 15-point victory. Kyla Go paced the Lady Archers with 18 points, three rebounds, and six steals, while 6-foot-3 Nigerian center Favour Ojo added 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. For UE, Rachel Lacayanga and Sy Onate led the team with 10 points apiece, while Lumibao chipped in seven points and three rebounds.

Oct 4, 2026

Alas men seek long-term system overhaul

THE Alas Pilipinas Men concluded their campaign at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in 13th place out of 16 nations. While returning home with just two victories, the squad leaves with invaluable international experience and a clear roadmap for the program’s future. Alas secured its first on-court win on Friday with a four-set victory over Uzbekistan (25-19, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17), followed by a victory by default against Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, Oct. 3. Despite a short preparation window, the team showed flashes of strong play throughout the tournament, holding their own in the preliminary round against powerhouse China and putting up spirited fights against Taiwan and Indonesia. Alas team manager Ronwald Dimaculangan highlighted limited practice time as the main obstacle to stronger results. “Preparation — specifically dedicated training camps — is essential for better results, but we’re still glad to secure a win at the Asian Games,” said Dimaculangan, who also serves as the head coach for the University of the East in the UAAP. To bridge the gap with the region’s top programs, Dimaculangan emphasized the need for a comprehensive development pipeline. “We need to identify talent early and bring in coaches who have proven experience at the international level,” Dimaculangan noted. “The goal is to instill a mindset of representing the country, so our athletes set their standards beyond just local competition.” He added that building a competitive national program will require sustained collaboration and strong support across all volleyball stakeholders.

Oct 4, 2026

Rybakina ousted by world No. 118 in China Open

BEIJING — World No.1 Elena Rybakina could not regroup and fell to 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva in the second round of the China Open on Saturday night in Beijing. The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan was playing her first match since seizing the top ranking on her US Open win in New York, but Armenia’s Charaeva triumphed, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, in a clinical comeback. “I don’t have words,” said Charaeva, who is making her Beijing debut. “This is incredible,” the 24-year-old said. “She’s [an] amazing player, and for me it’s kind of just dream come true,” she said of Rybakina. “I will be really happy to stay some more days in Beijing,” she added. “Never stop believing, I guess.” Rybakina got off to a solid start, but seven double-faults ushered the momentum into the hands of her opponent. Wind rattled the closed-roof stadium, with both players serving as thunderous claps echoed over the court. A supportive crowd tried to rally Rybakina back into contention, but Charaeva held serve to win the match in two hours and 11 minutes. Charaeva faces Briton Sonay Kartal in the third round. Meanwhile, big-serving Alexander Zverev trounced home hopeful Shang Juncheng, 6-0, 6-3, to set up a quarterfinal clash with Novak Djokovic. The German top seed needed just 55 minutes to brush aside the Chinese wild card, ranked 250th, firing nine aces along the way. “Happy with the win,” the world’s second-ranked player said, adding that his 21-year-old opponent had been “dangerous” and had “nothing to lose.” “Looking forward to the next couple of weeks,” Zverev said ahead of his tie with Djokovic — who has never lost a match in Beijing — on Sunday. Zverev’s cruise into the next round comes as he trains his sights on the No. 1 spot currently held by Jannik Sinner. The Italian won in Beijing last year but is not there this time around. He said on Saturday that he would not play at next week’s Shanghai Masters either. “I think it’s no secret that it’s a goal, for sure,” Zverev told reporters when asked about the battle for No. 1. “I know what I’m playing for. I know I’m very, very motivated to play at the moment. But again, I have a tough challenge tomorrow, and that’s my focus,” he said. Also in the men’s draw, third seed Daniil Medvedev eased into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff to play Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. Alex de Minaur, seeded fifth, and Andrey Rublev both needed three sets to advance and will play each other in the last eight. AFP

Oct 4, 2026

LeBron kicks off new era in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers' public address announcer ended a brief retirement over the summer in large part to get behind the mic and do what he did for the first time ahead of the team's annual scrimmage. Matt Cord introduced LeBron James in the Sixers' starting lineup. "At 6-9, from St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, No. 23, LeBron James! James!' Close to 10,000 fans who plunked down $10 a ticket on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to essentially witness a glorified practice at the Sixers’ home arena went wild for James' debut. No, James didn't wear No. 23. He historically wore No. 6 over his career in practice gear but with that number retired in Philadelphia because of Julius Erving, James went with No. 9. No, the dunks and 3s and assists didn't count in any official capacity. And no, James wasn't even introduced last. That honor remained reserved for Joel Embiid. What the new 41-year-old on the block did do was give — along with Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe — a sneak preview that maybe, just maybe, the long underperforming Sixers might finally rise to the moment this season and meet their championship expectations. “It was a great first step in a direction we're trying to go,” James said. “It was great to hear some cheers from our fans.” Sixers fans that crammed aisles and stairways trying to catch a first glimpse or a snapshot of James were shooed back to their seats. Vendors hawked James merchandise outside the arena and told fans they could own the first pieces of his merchandise. Sixers fans that inched near the court screamed and outright begged James to stop and turnaround and pose for pictures. They also crammed into team stores buying No. 23 jerseys. The Sixers started the scrimmage early with what they hope is a familiar sight: Maxey in transition hit James for an alley-oop dunk. James hung and swung on the rim for a few seconds. James made a nifty behind-the-back pass to Edgecombe (who missed a corner 3) and even squared up and buried a long 3 from about Caitlin Clark range.

Kim’s Asiad gold earns military exemption

Oct 4, 2026

NAGOYA, Japan — South Korean golfer Tom Kim got what he came for by winning the men's singles on Saturday at the Asian Games: a gold medal and an exemption from military service back home. He shot a 6-under 64 in Saturday's final round for a four-day total of 18-under 262. Three golfers were three back and faced a playoff with Kazuki Higa of Japan taking silver and Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana earning bronze. Tom Kim made a special effort to win in Japan, flying across the Pacific when the Presidents Cup competition ended last weekend. Asked about the exemption, he took the gold-medal approach. “Despite that, I’m more proud that I’m able to bring a medal for my country,” he said. He did acknowledge pressure — the flight, the expectations, the gold medal and more. “I tried not to think about it,” he said. “I just tried to play [the] best for my country. It's a big stepping stone. I think the pressure that I felt this week, I'll be able to implement it in my upcoming seasons." Most able-bodied men in South Korea must serve about 18 months in uniform, but a medal of any color at the Olympics — or gold in the Asian Games — provides an out. However, South Korea failed to win the team competition. That means that S.H. Kim, who played on the team with Tom Kim, did not get the exemption. He closed with a 73 and the third team member, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, shot 70. Mun had already served and did not need the exemption. Kim Joo-hyung goes by Tom Kim when he plays on the PGA Tour, and Kim Seong-hyeon goes by S.H. Kim when he plays abroad. China won the team event with silver for South Korea and bronze for Japan.

Oct 4, 2026

South African Jarvis eyes Alfred Dunhill title

LONDON — Casey Jarvis on Saturday moved a step closer to winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship after building a two-stroke lead heading into the final round. Jarvis’s round of seven-under par on the Old Course at St Andrews maintained his fine form at the links event. The tournament is played over three courses — Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews — with the latter also hosting the last round on Sunday. Jarvis, who held a one-shot advantage overnight, opened with a superb eagle on his approach from 103 yards before picking up three birdies ahead of the turn despite the windy conditions. Two more on the back nine, at three and five, saw him sign for a 65, to sit at 18 under, ahead of Englishman Matthew Jordan and Poland’s Adrian Meronk, who shot the joint-best round of the day with a nine-under 63 at Kingsbarns. “I just felt like I was in control of my game today,” said Jarvis, who is aiming to seal a third DP World Tour win this season. “Every golfer dreams of taking a lead, playing the Old Course on Sunday. I got goosebumps right now just standing here. “I just can’t wait for tomorrow. Even if I don’t win, to be taking the lead, I am just going to enjoy it as much as I can.” Chasing his first DP World Tour win in his 183rd tournament, Jordan carded a bogey-free 66 during his third round at Kingsbarns. Belgian Thomas Detry is at 15-under after his seven-under at St Andrews, while Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen, who made a nine-under 63 at Kingsbarns, is four shots off the lead.

Oct 4, 2026

China swimmers Yu Zidi, Zhang Zhanshuo among Asian Games stars who could light up LA Games

The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya close on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a fortnight of competition featuring some record-breaking performances. Among the best performers were the two athletes named Asian Games MVPs: 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi and Thai track and field sprinter Boonson Puripol. Yu, who won all three of her individual events with ease, said “I’m no prodigy” after being named the women’s MVP on Sunday. The schoolgirl, who looks poised to take the Los Angeles 2028...

Oct 4, 2026

China swimmers Yu Zidi, Zhang Zhanshuo among Asian Games stars who could light up LA Games

Oct 4, 2026