MANILA, Philippines—Jose Rizal University eased past winless San Sebastian, 102-78, in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament at Philsports Arena on Friday. The Heavy Bombers hiked their winning streak to three games to improve to 5-1 in Group A. READ: NCAA: Mangubat, Hubilla settling into bigger roles at JRU JRU coach Nani Epondulan, however,

CEBU CITY — Detdet Pepito once watched her volleyball idols and older sisters, Marge and MJ, play for San Sebastian in the Shakey’s V-League, the predecessor to the Premier Volleyball League. On Saturday, the Capital1 rookie gets her own moment in the spotlight as she begins her professional career in the league that grew from

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 89  basketball tournament – first round MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo will have to play without its coach, Louie Alas when it faces Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday after the league handed him a one-game suspension. The league announced the penalty Friday after Alas accumulated three technical

POWERHOUSE squads San Miguel Beer (SMB) and TNT collide in a titanic matchup, highlighting the Saturday schedule of the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. The Beermen (7-2) and the Tropang 5G (5-4) square off at 7:30 p.m. TNT managed to squeak past SMB, 93-89, in overtime in their first meeting over a month ago at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Kim Aurin came through with a game-high 22 points, hitting big shots in the extra period to bail TNT out. That game saw the Tropang 5G play with a depleted roster as veterans Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Jordan Heading, and Jayson Castro were still out due to various injuries at that time. But their second face off on Saturday will feature a TNT side that is at full strength as the four key players are back in harness. Oftana actually tossed in 31 points in leading TNT past Terrafirma, 116-92, at the resumption of the tournament last Wednesday. TNT also saw new import Nick Hornsby with a solid PBA debut of 26 points as he took the spot of Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson. San Miguel, though, is on a three-game roll just before the tournament took a temporary seven-week halt to give way to the international tournaments of Gilas Pilipinas. The Beermen piled up three straight wins prior to the break, routing the Converge FiberXers, 126-114, the Macau Giant Pandas, 131-79, and the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 143-113.  High-scoring import George King will be leading the SMB charge, along with June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Don Trollano and reigning PBA 3-point king Jerrick Ahanmisi. Meanwhile, Terrafirma fights for playoff life and needs to win against a decimated Macau side on Saturday. The Dyip suffered back-to-back blowout defeats against Converge and TNT and dropped to a 3-6 win-loss record.  Macau, which enters the game without its core of Ramon Cao, Damian Chonqui, and Jenning Leung, is also fighting for its postseason hopes. The Giant Pandas are coming off humiliating 138-78 beating from the NLEX Road Warriors, marking the worst-ever defeat in league history.  Macau carries an anemic 2-7 record in Group A.

PREMIER Volleyball League (PVL) celebrates a decade of high standard volleyball action with a one of a kind triple-header to open the All-Filipino Conference at the newly opened SM Seaside Cebu Arena on Saturday. For the first time, the men’s counterpart — Spikers’ Turf — joins the PVL schedule on the same play date with a game sandwiched by two women’s matches. It is also the first time the PVL opens a season at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena and the first major professional volleyball event staged at the venue. The triple-header action features Capital 1 Solar Spikers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans at 1 p.m. followed by Spikers’ Turf teams Alpha Insurance Protectors and Savogue Aesthetics at 3:30 p.m. and the much-awaited match between Creamline and Akari at 6 p.m. The All-Filipino Conference features a new format, built on three series. The first round, referred to as Siklab, is slated from Oct. 10 to Dec. 4 and is a single round-robin with a mandatory “all-to-play” rule requiring every declared and available player in the team to see action. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals where the two best teams in the elims having the twice-to-beat advantage. The championship showdown is a best of three affair. The second round is slated from January to March with the same format but without the all-play requirement, allowing coaches to have full flexibility. And for the final round, points from the first two series determine seedings for a stepladder-style finale where the first-ever Philippine grand champion will be crowned. To kickoff the opening day, Capital 1 will be bannered by prize acquisition and national team standout Bella Belen, together with former Cignal Super Spikers stars Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos. The lethal trio aims to upscale the young franchise, which was founded in 2024. However, the Solar Spikers need to brace for the heavy favorites Choco Mucho, bannered by Sisi Rondina and setter Deanna Wong, who both have Cebu roots. Rondina, who was out from the previous season as she was serving her national team duties, returns to the court with Choco Mucho star Eya Laure. After their match, the men’s team Alpha Insurance Protectors and Savogue Aesthetics begin their campaigns. For the final game, Creamline begins its quest for a record-stretching 12th championship after a fourth-place finish in the 2026 Invitational Conference. The Cool Smashers will be bannered by stars Alyssa Valdez, Jia de Guzman, Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, and Jema Galanza. Creamline, which historically dominated Akari, needs to brace for the fortified team powered by captain Justine Jazareno and setter Mars Alba. The Chargers achieved rare victories over Creamline in the Reinforced and All-Filipino Conferences, and aim to pull another upset.

LOS ANGELES — The Cleveland Guardians exploded for six runs in the sixth inning to beat the Chicago White Sox, 9-5, on Thursday (Friday in Manila) and force a deciding Game 5 in their Major League Baseball (MLB) playoff series. Jose Ramirez belted a two-run home run in fifth inning and delivered a run-scoring single in the Guardians’ big sixth to help Cleveland win a second straight game in Chicago after dropping the first two games of the best-of-five American League division series at home. Having denied the White Sox’s bid to clinch a playoff series at home for the first time since 1906, the Guardians will host game five on Saturday. Ten teams have come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-five playoff series, the most recent the New York Yankees in 2017 — against Cleveland. “It’s going to be a crazy energy,” said Ramirez, who followed pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey’s solo homer in the fifth by belting a 99.9 mph fastball from White Sox relief pitcher Jordan Hicks into the bullpen for a two-run home run that put the Guardians up, 3-2. The White Sox edged back in front with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. But Cleveland poured it on in the sixth, sending 10 batters to the plate. Angel Martinez was hit by a pitch to take first and stole second. He scored on Travis Bazzana’s double. Bailey, Ramirez, Chase De Lauter and Jo Adell added run-scoring hits. The White Sox, trying to extend a fairytale year that has seen them bounce back from three straight 100-loss seasons to improbably reach the playoffs, scored their first four runs on a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a pair of sacrifice flys. Miguel Vargas led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run off Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith to briefly energize the Chicago crowd. But after Munetaka Murakami walked, Cleveland sent their ace starting pitcher Gavin Williams to the mound. He gave up a single to Sam Antonacci before retiring the next three batters to seal the win. Williams was the eighth pitcher to take the mound for the Guardians. The White Sox used seven, with starter Hagen Smith exiting in the first inning after recording two outs but walking the bases loaded to get the hook after 27 pitches. Chicago reliever Grant Taylor, who pitched 5 1/2 scoreless innings in the first two games of the series, gave up four runs on four hits without recording an out in the sixth inning. The winner of the series will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League championship series, with a World Series berth on the line. The Rays, the top seeds in the American League, polished off a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

NEW YORK — Las Vegas Aces center-forward A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player for a record fifth time, bagging the award for an unprecedented third straight season, the league said Thursday (Friday in Manila). Wilson, who earned MVP honors in leading the United States to Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, became the first WNBA player to average 25 points, 50-percent shooting and 40 percent from three-point range in the 2026 regular season. She averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 blocked shots and 1.4 steals per game, leading the league in points per game for the third straight season. Drafted number one in 2018, she has been the face of the franchise that relocated to Las Vegas in her rookie season. This year the Aces won their last seven games of the regular season, finishing 31-13 to claim the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. They are chasing a fourth title but trail the Golden State Valkyries, 2-0, in the semifinals ahead of Friday’s Game 3. Wilson received 65 of 74 first-place votes and nine second-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Minnesota Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles finished second in the voting. Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson are the only other players to win three WNBA MVP awards.

LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball (MLB) on Thursday (Friday in Manila) proposed reducing the number of regular-season games from 162 to 154 and changing playoffs so that top seeds can pick their opponents. The proposals, which also included expanding post-season division series from best-of-five to best-of-seven, were presented in the latest bargaining session between the MLB and its players association, as fears loom of a standoff over salary restrictions that could interrupt next season. “MLB has proposed returning to a 154-game Regular Season, best-of-seven Division Series, and opponent selection in the Wild Card and Division Series,” said a league statement. The league said shortening the regular season would create a standard weekly off day that would benefit player health. More off days would also be added in the postseason to allow extra rest, with fewer daytime playoff games and additional primetime games, said MLB. A new system that allowed higher-seeded clubs in the playoff wild card and division series rounds to select their opponents would be implemented from next year, if agreed. The proposals come as baseball faces the prospect of an owner lockout and potential player strike in the coming months. The next collective bargaining agreement is due to be negotiated by December. Team owners are pushing for a salary cap and floor, citing huge payroll disparities between clubs which they say have damaged competition. The players association is opposed to any move to reduce the amount clubs pay, and has accused team owners of simply wishing to save themselves money. In a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the players association said it was reviewing the latest proposals, and would let players weigh in before responding at the bargaining table. “Unfortunately, the league once again made clear that all of its proposals are contingent on players’ agreement to a salary cap, a system that guts player rights and compensation, as well as its other anti-player proposals,” said the Major League Baseball Players Association statement. Under the proposals to pick playoff opponents, the third-seeded team in each league would have the option of playing either the fifth or sixth seed in the wild card round. The top seed in each league, which receives a bye in the wild card round, would choose which wild card winner to play in the subsequent round. The proposed shorter regular season, and expanded division series round, would both begin in 2029.

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Fresh off making the clinching putt in another US victory at the Presidents Cup, Jacob Bridgeman birdied four of his last five holes Thursday for an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead over Jordan Smith in the Baycurrent Classic. The PGA Tour’s lone stop in Asia features its strongest field of the FedEx Cup Fall, with 13 of the 24 players who competed in the Presidents Cup two weeks ago at Medinah in the Chicago suburbs. Bridgeman made his debut at Medinah, and his par putt to defeat Min Woo Lee on the 18th green was the clinching point for the 11th straight American victory. He was right back at it on the Yokohama Country Club course with a bogey-free round. Only one of his eight birdies, an 18-footer on his fourth hole of the round at No. 13, was outside the 10-foot range. “I felt a little rusty to be honest, but I was able to score the ball well and I felt like I put the ball in positions where when I made a little mistake, it was pretty easy to recover,” Bridgeman said. Smith, who advanced to the PGA Tour postseason in his first year after earning a card through the European tour, also played bogey-free for his 64. He spent nine years on the European tour and is adept at travel and learning new courses. Even so, his first time playing a full PGA Tour schedule was new in so many ways. He felt pleased to get to the postseason to guarantee a card for next year, and the next step is getting into the bigger events. “I’m very, very happy,” Smith said of his year. “Obviously it’s tough for us guys coming over here. I mean, I’ve had 10 seasons on the DP World Tour, so it was all very familiar to me. Coming over to the PGA Tour, everything’s very, very new, new faces, new places, new golf courses. “To adapt that quickly, I’m very happy with that. But I’ve enjoyed it a lot. It’s been good fun.” Max Homa was among four players another shot behind. Japan’s biggest golf star, Hideki Matsuyama, was at 67 along with Ryo Hisatsune and Collin Morikawa. Bridgeman didn’t get much practice in since the Presidents Cup. He chose to rest, went to Maine for his sister’s wedding and took the long charter flight to Las Vegas before getting in a little practice. It worked out for him on Thursday. Jordan Spieth, making his first start since he failed to advance to the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs, had a mixture of birdies and bogeys, along with one double bogey, for a 72. Key for players like Smith and Homa are trying to finish the year in the top 60 on the FedEx Cup to become eligible for two of the early signature events at Pebble Beach and Riviera. Players like Billy Horschel and Tony Finau, who each opened with a 71, are trying to finish among the top 100 to secure a full card for 2027. AP

Barangay Ginebra drew big games from RJ Abarrientos and new import Jordan Murphy to roll past Rain or Shine, 129-111, to end its two-game losing skid in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila. Abarrientos sizzled with a game-high 34 points, highlighted by six triples, to go along with nine assists. Murphy, taking over from Riley Grigsby, scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and issued seven assists, along with four blocks in an all-around PBA debut as Ginebra avenged its 110-99 loss to Rain or Shine in their first meeting. The Gin Kings opened the game with a 40-19 lead, stretched it to 27 points by halftime and led by as many as 67-34 en route to moving to a tie at fourth place with Blackwater with a 3-4 win-loss slate. Rain or Shine saw its four-game winning streak come to an end, dropping to 4-3, and allowing Magnolia to grab the lead in Group B with a 5-3 win-loss slate. The Hotshots won earlier in the day, 107-101, after beating the Bossing. “I think that we just were a little desperate, played with a little desperation tonight being at the bottom of the team standings,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “That’s not something that we are never used to. The players aren’t used to it. Certainly, the fans aren’t used to it.” Aaron Fuller led Rain or Shine with 23 points and 13 rebounds for Rain or Shine, but he also had nine turnovers.

Dallas Mavericks fans will have to wait just a little bit longer to see Kyrie Irving in their team’s colours for the first time in almost two years, after he sat out Friday’s 135-117 pre-season loss to the Houston Rockets in Macau. Even without the flashy point guard running things, however, the two Texas clubs still put on a show for the thousands that packed into The Venetian Arena for the second year of NBA China Games. When the 34-year-old does finally return after an injury break that began...

Dallas Mavericks fans will have to wait just a little bit longer to see Kyrie Irving in their team’s colours for the first time in almost two years, after he sat out Friday’s 135-117 pre-season loss to the Houston Rockets in Macau. Even without the flashy point guard running things, however, the two Texas clubs still put on a show for the thousands that packed into The Venetian Arena for the second year of NBA China Games. When the 34-year-old does finally return after an injury break that began...

LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson fine-tunes her shooting touch following every practice. That little bit of extra work has defined her greatness since being drafted first overall in 2018. On Thursday, she received a voice message from former Vice President Kamala Harris congratulating her on redefining greatness leaguewide after she was named WNBA MVP for

NEW YORK–NBA superstar LeBron James delivered a solid first half in his first pre-season game for Philadelphia on Thursday, but the new-look 76ers fell 114-108 to the Nets in Brooklyn. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, announced in July that he had signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, ending weeks of speculation

RJ Abarrientos caught fire from the field, drilling three four-pointers and six triples on his way to a 34-point outing, while new import Jordan Murphy added 30 points to power Barangay Ginebra past Rain or Shine, 129-111, in the PBA Governors" Cup on Friday.

Jerom Lastimosa and import KJ Buffen powered the Magnolia Hotshots to their fourth consecutive win in the PBA Governors" Cup, escaping the Blackwater Bossing, 107-101, on Friday.

BEIJING, China — Homegrown hero Zheng Qinwen pulled out some of her best tennis to beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) at the China Open on Friday and storm into a semi-final against Belgium's Elise Mertens. Zheng, a wildcard entry in Beijing, finally notched her first straight-sets win of this year's tournament having needed more than 10 hours on court to get to the quarter-finals. The world number 54 sent the crowd roaring as she punched winners down the line, though the seventh-ranked Svitolina came back fighting to force a second set tie-break. Zheng double-faulted on the first point but crawled her way out from a 0-2 deficit and fell onto her back victorious after winning her second match point. "Truthfully, because I really wanted to grab this win, I was really nervous," the 24-year-old told the crowd. "I played really aggressive in important moments," she said, adding that her opponent "raised her level" in a tight second set. Svitolina made just 13 unforced errors over the one-hour-and-47-minute match, but was outgunned by 48 winners from the 2024 Olympic champion. - Mertens upsets Swiatek - Mertens, the world number 19, beat Poland's Iga Swiatek 7-6 (7/0), 6-3, overcoming some nerves to dump out the 2023 title winner. "I tried to be consistent. She's a great player, so I had to really push myself," said Mertens, who had lost both of her two previous matches against eighth-seeded Swiatek. "It was really nerve-wracking at the end but I kept myself calm... I just can't believe it." The 30-year-old was the evening's better technician, making just 11 unforced errors to Swiatek's 34 across the one-hour-and-50-minute affair. Mertens had surged into her singles quarter-final after beating third-seeded Coco Gauff, also in straight sets.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde extended its winning streak to four games after defeating Arellano University, 94-82, in the NCAA Season 102 men"s basketball tournament on Friday.

MANILA, Philippines — College of Saint Benilde claimed the number one spot after defeating Arellano University, 94-82, in the crossover round of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Friday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The Benilde Blazers tallied a league-leading 6-1 win-loss record, while Arellano absorbed its third consecutive loss with a 4-3 card. Justine Sanchez received the player of the game plum, with 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for St. Benilde. “What happened is that we remained composed, and I told to my teammates that we should help each other, and we can do this. I told them that whatever happens, we should stay together," said Sanchez in Filipino. Benilde’s supporting cast provided ample help for Sanchez with Jhommel Ancheta leading the way on offense with 18 points. The duo of SJ Moore and Zenric Jarque also helped the cause with 12 points each. Basti Valencia topscored for Arellano with 17 points. T-Mc Ongotan’s struggles continued as he dropped 14 on a 4-for-11 shooting night. King Vinoya also scattered 12 points as his squad dropped to 4-3 in Group B. The scores: CSB (94) - Ancheta 18, Sanchez 17, Moore 12, Jarque 12, Morales 9, Torres 9, Jucom 6, Podador 6, Cajucom 5,Go 0, Lorenzo 0, Daja 0, Arciaga 0 AU (82) - Valencia 17, Ongotan 14, Vinoya 12, Buenaventura 10, Borromeo 8, Langit 8, Geronimo 4, Hernal 3, Camay 2, Abiera 2, Cabotaje 2, Flores 0, Manansala 0 Quarter scores: 25-26, 42-48, 73-70, 94-82

Basketball fans draped in the red of Houston and blue of Dallas flooded into The Venetian Macau on Friday ahead of the first of this year’s NBA China Games. The exhibition between the Rockets and Mavericks forms the centrepiece of a five-day basketball festival that tipped off on Wednesday and will conclude with a second match between the two on Sunday. Crowds gathered hours in advance of the opening tip-off, and lengthy queues snaked past the prominent NBA House entrance archway along the...

MADRID — NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined the ownership group at Atletico Madrid, the Spanish top-flight club said Friday. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard has become the latest North American sports star to take an interest in soccer, following the likes of LeBron James and Tom Brady. “This is a club with a long-standing presence at the top of European football, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of its future,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. Atletico said the partnership was “grounded in shared values: ambition, excellence and the belief that every result must be earned.” James became a part-owner of the Fenway Sports Group in 2021, the conglomerate that owns the Boston Red Sox and iconic Premier League club Liverpool. NFL great Brady is a minority owner of English second-tier team Birmingham. Atletico did not reveal how big a stake 2025 NBA champion and back-to-back NBA MVP Gilgeous-Alexander had taken. “His investment reflects an interest in the club’s long-term vision and international growth,” it said. Atletico, second in the standings, visits La Liga rival Alaves on Saturday.

Magnolia leaned on the trio of Jerome Lastimosa, KJ Buffen and Zavier Lucero in the second half to turn back a tough Blackwater side, 107-101, for its fourth straight win in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Lastimosa and Buffen finished with 24 points apiece, even as the Magnolia import grabbed 20 rebounds. The Hotshots outrebounded the Bossing, 55-37, showing their aggressiveness from the get-go Lucero, fresh from his recent Gilas Pilipinas stint in the Asian Games, added 17 for Magnolia, which also held a massive 56-23 advantage in bench points. It was sweet revenge for the Hotshots who suffered an 89-81 loss to the Bossing in their first meeting last July 17. Magnolia improved to 5-3 overall, while Blackwater dropped to 3-4, winning just once in its last five games after a 2-0 start. Sedrick Barefield led the Bossing with 24 points, while import Kentrell Barkley added 20, 12 and eight assists.

The duo of Lawrence Mangubat and Chris Hubilla powered Jose Rizal University (JRU) past San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 102-78, in the NCAA Season 102 men"s basketball tournament on Friday.

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament   Benilde def. Arellano (94-82) Justine Sanchez Player of the Game #NCAASeason102

Gilas Pilipinas" failure to defend its gold medal at the recent Asian Games was partly attributed to the absence of its core players, as the tournament did not coincide with the FIBA window.

ESPN host and NBA insider Brian Windhorst believes it is only a matter of time before a homegrown Filipino basketball player makes it to the world's premier basketball league.

MANILA, Philippines — Jose Rizal University (JRU) showed no mercy as it demolished San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 102-78, in the crossover round of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Friday afternoon at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The JRU Heavy Bombers improved to a 5-1 win-loss card, tied with College of Saint Benilde on top of the Pool A rankings. The Golden Stags, on the other hand, fell to 0-7. JRU, the 2026 FilOil pre-season champion, made 37 out of its 69 field goal attempts for a 53.6 percent clip. San Sebastian could not find its rhythm and made 28 out of its 64 attempts for a 43.1 field goal percentage. Lawrence Mangubat led the scoring for the Heavy Bombers with 20 points along with eight rebounds, while Chris Hubilla made a double-double performance of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Niel Castro tried to put up the fight for San Sebastián by scoring 17 points.

Home-grown hero Zheng Qinwen pulled out some of her best tennis to beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 at the China Open on Friday and storm into the semi-finals. Zheng, a wild-card entry in Beijing, finally notched her first straight-sets win of this year’s tournament, having needed more than 10 hours on court to get to the quarter-final. The world No 54 sent the crowd roaring as she punched winners down the line, though the seventh-ranked Svitolina came back fighting to force a second-set...

Home-grown hero Zheng Qinwen pulled out some of her best tennis to beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 at the China Open on Friday and storm into the semi-finals. Zheng, a wild-card entry in Beijing, finally notched her first straight-sets win of this year’s tournament, having needed more than 10 hours on court to get to the quarter-final. The world No 54 sent the crowd roaring as she punched winners down the line, though the seventh-ranked Svitolina came back fighting to force a second-set...

Chinese basketball fans wanting to catch a glimpse of Yang Hansen in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform might get their wish next year, with the centre’s side reportedly one of the two teams tipped to play in the 2027 NBA China Games in Macau. The Trail Blazers, who opened their pre-season with a 123-118 win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, have Chinese centre Yang, all-star point guard Damian Lillard, and former rookie of the year Ja Morant on their roster. A well-placed source told...