Red Bull’s Max Verstappen eager for first win of season at Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

South China Morning Post - Oct 1, 2026

Max Verstappen said he wants to win “at least one race this year” as ⁠the four-time Formula 1 champion sits ⁠in an unfamiliar sixth place in the championship ⁠standings after 15 rounds. Having dominated Formula 1 in recent years, Verstappen has managed only seven podium finishes this season and is still searching for that elusive first win, coming close with second-place finishes in his past two outings in Madrid and Baku. Verstappen’s desperate charge against George Russell on the final...

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POC chief says surpassing gold medal target still possible

Oct 1, 2026

POC chief says surpassing gold medal target still possible

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is confident the country would surpass its target of four gold medals in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Tolentino said the country still has a strong chance in multiple disciplines, including jiu-jitsu and judo. “There are still three days until Sunday morning. Last 3 days, still hoping for more golds,” he said.   His bold prediction, however, took a hit Thursday afternoon when top seed Alex Eala lost in women's tennis semifinals and settled for the bronze.  At the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the Philippines finished with four gold medals from pole vaulter EJ Obiena, jiu-jitsu fighters Annie Ramirez and Meggie Ochoa, and the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team. At press time, the Philippines has three gold medals, one from Obiena and two from Carlos Yulo. Tokyo Olympic silver medalist and pugilist Carlo Paalam and the jiu-jitsu fighters, including Ramirez and Kaila Napolis are still in the hunt for a gold medal. “God willing. Fellow Filipinos, let's pray for our athletes at Team Philippines. They’re still on the qualification stage. That’s why we can still surpass the four, hopefully,” Tolentino said. The POC chief earlier said that their target was to win four gold medals — later increased to eight — for this edition of the Asian Games. The closing ceremony is set to be held on Sunday with Japan handing over the Olympic Council of Asia flag to Doha, Qatar, which will host the quadrennial event for the second time in 2030.

NCAA: Mapua hands Arellano first loss to open crossover phase

Oct 1, 2026

NCAA: Mapua hands Arellano first loss to open crossover phase

Mapua University handed Arellano University its first loss in NCAA Season 102, 69-55, as the crossover phase of the group stage commenced on Thursday.

Manchester City scandal risks damaging Premier League’s booming global brand

Oct 1, 2026

Manchester City scandal risks damaging Premier League’s booming global brand

The Premier League has won a lengthy legal battle with Manchester City over financial impropriety, but the consequences could leave lasting damage for a league that has long been the envy of world football. City face severe sanctions after being found guilty of more than 100 charges between 2009 and 2018, with an independent commission exposing “sham” contracts to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million (US$1.2 billion). A hefty points deduction...

Junior Altas claim 4th straight win

Oct 1, 2026

Junior Altas claim 4th straight win

University of Perpetual Help got off to a sizzling start against La Salle Greenhills and never looked back en route to its fourth consecutive victory in  the NCAA Season 102 juniors basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Thursday. Lord Dulanas collected 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to lead the Junior Altas to a convincing 108-86 win over the Greenies.  Rookie Sizco Roquid contributed 16 points, 5 boards and a steal while Francis Rosales scored 13 points behind a 3-of-4 shooting from the 3-point area for the Joph Cleopas-coached team. Cleopas lauded his team for not wilting to pressure when the Greenies mounted a rally in the second quarter. In the second half, however, the Junior Altas regained their composure and led by as many as 25 points.    Patrick Pasinos led the Greenies with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks.

Mapua hands Arellano its first loss in NCAA Season 102

Oct 1, 2026

Mapua hands Arellano its first loss in NCAA Season 102

MANILA, Philippines — Mapua University dealt Arellano University its first loss in NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Yam Concepcion stuffed the statistical sheet with 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and four steals to lead the Cardinals to a 69-55 victory. Ivan Lazarte chipped in 17 points while Lance Nitura added nine points for Mapua. Mapua outrebounded Arellano, 56-30, and shot 43.1 percent (28/65) from the field  compared to Arellano’s 27.9 percent (19/68) shooting clip. The Cardinals also contained T-mc Ongotan, who was named NCAA Player of the Week last week. After scoring a career-high of 29 points against Letran, he was limited to only seven points against Mapua. Renzo Abiera and Yuan Camay led the Chiefs with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Mapua, which suffered three consecutive heartaches, scored a breakthrough win over San Beda University and kept its momentum against Arellano to tally a 2-3 win-loss card. Arellano dropped to 4-1.

Alex Eala says 'no regrets' after Asian Games semis exit, bronze finish

Oct 1, 2026

Alex Eala says 'no regrets' after Asian Games semis exit, bronze finish

Alex Eala still walked away from the Asian Games with a bronze medal for the Philippines, but the pain of coming so close to a place in the final was evident.

Asian Games: China’s Wang Xiyu ousts Philippines top seed Alexandra Eala in semi-finals

Oct 1, 2026

Asian Games: China’s Wang Xiyu ousts Philippines top seed Alexandra Eala in semi-finals

Philippines tennis star Alexandra Eala saw her bid for Asian Games gold, and ⁠qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles ⁠Olympics, end in Thursday’s semi-finals after a stunning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to China’s world No 85 Wang Xiyu. Top seed and world No 18 Eala was looking to become the first woman from the Philippines to win the title. The 21-year-old will instead go home with only a bronze medal, which she had also won at the last Games in Hangzhou, where she also won bronze in the mixed...

LOOK: Mapúa def. Arellano (69-55)

Oct 1, 2026

LOOK: Mapúa def. Arellano (69-55)

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament Mapúa def. Arellano, 69-55 Yam Concepcion Player of the Game #NCAASeason102

Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape secures bronze in Asian Games men's poomsae

Oct 1, 2026

Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape secures bronze in Asian Games men's poomsae

Taekwondo jin Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape secured the bronze medal in the men"s individual poomsae at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday in Japan.

No Asian Games gold for Eala

Oct 1, 2026

No Asian Games gold for Eala

MANILA, Philippines — Favored to win the gold medal, Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala bowed to Xiyu Wang of China in a grueling three-set match, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, in their women's tennis semifinal duel at the 20th Asian Games on a windy Thursday afternoon at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. Eala, ranked 18th in the world and seeded No. 1 in the tournament, failed to sustain her rousing start and lost to world No. 85 Wang after a long three-hour battle. Eala fully took control of the match against Wang after a 5-0 start in the opening set, orchestrating razor-sharp swings. Wang did not back down from the fight and pulled three straight loves to challenge the No. 1-seeded netter of the tournament, 5-3. Eala had enough with the back-and-forth against Wang and loaded up her swings to take the first set, 6-3. In set three, Wang held a comfortable 5-2 lead, nearing to book her ticket in the finals. Wang finished the match with a loaded hammer, 6-2. Eala fell short in her bid to end the 64-year gold medal drought of the nation, as the last time the Philippines won a gold medal was at the 1962 Jakarta Games, when Johnny Jose defeated Michio Miyagi in the men’s singles final. Wang will next face compatriot Shuai Zhang, ranked World No. 54, making it an all-Chinese women's final.

Alex Eala settles for bronze in 2026 Asian Games

Oct 1, 2026

Alex Eala settles for bronze in 2026 Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines — Favored to win a gold medal, Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala settled for a bronze medal in the 2026 Asian Games after losing to Xiyu Wang of China in a grueling three-set match, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, on a windy Thursday afternoon at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. The World No. 18 Eala, seeded No. 1 in the tournament, bowed to the World No. 85 Wang in the semifinals after a long three-hour battle. Eala fully took control of the match against Wang after a 5-0 start in the opening set, orchestrating razor-sharp swings. Wang did not back down from the fight and pulled three straight loves to challenge the No. 1-seeded netter of the tournament, 5-3. The World No. 18 Eala had enough with the back-and-forth against the World No. 85 Wang, loading up her swings to take the first set, 6-3. In set three, Wang held a comfortable 5-2 lead, nearing to book her ticket in the finals. Wang finished the match with a loaded swing, 6-2. Eala fell short in her bid to end the 64-year gold medal drought of the nation, as the last time the Philippines won a gold medal was at the 1962 Jakarta Games, when Johnny Jose defeated Michio Miyagi in the men’s singles final. Wang will next face compatriot Shuai Zhang, ranked World No. 54, making it an all-Chinese women's final.

Alex Eala ends Asian Games run with bronze medal, falls short against China's Wang in semis

Oct 1, 2026

Alex Eala ends Asian Games run with bronze medal, falls short against China's Wang in semis

Alexandra Eala ended her 2026 Asian Games campaign with a bronze medal after falling to China"s Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, in the semifinals on Thursday in Japan.

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