PHILIPPINE volleyball icon Alyssa Valdez remains thrilled that, years after her career-defining stint with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, she is still playing the sport she loves. On the Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) 10th anniversary, Valdez, who has been playing volleyball for nearly 20 years — sees her decade-long involvement in the league as a personal milestone. “It’s a very, very huge milestone for me because, in my career, I never really thought I would still be playing this long after graduating from college. And I never imagined that I would enjoy and love volleyball this much even after 10 years or more,” she said after Creamline’s win over Akari on Saturday night at the SM Seaside Arena Cebu. “I think the legacy... what we always practice in our Creamline team... I hope they see that when you enjoy doing what you love, everything will follow naturally — the wins and everything,” she added. Valdez’s rise to stardom started with Ateneo as she guided the team to consecutive titles in 2014 and 2015, with her explosive back-row attacks and precise cross-court swings soon earning her the nicknames “The Phenom” and “Bagyong Baldo.” In the professional ranks, Valdez has won all 11 championships with Creamline in the PVL. The 33-year-old hitter was also nostalgic about playing for Cebu, recalling that the last time she played in the Queen City of the South was when she was in college. “It’s so nice to be here in Cebu. It’s my first time playing in Cebu for the PVL. The last time I played here was still back in my Ateneo days... don’t even count how long ago that was.” “I’m very, very happy with how the turnout of people turned out, and wow — we can keep coming back here again and again because it really feels like Cebu loves volleyball so much. So thank you, thank you so much to everyone who supported us.” With over 19,000 spectators showing up for PVL’s opening day, Valdez did not anticipate that the league would fill the arena. With rumors of retirement circulating on social media, Valdez has one thing that she’s certain of — and that she’s still enjoying playing volleyball. “Maybe as players, we’ll love our job even more and work even harder so that we can stay here longer, 10 years or more, or even 20 years or more, for all of us, and for the future generations of athletes and volleyball players.”

COMING off back-to-back runner-up finishes that exposed the fine line between victory and heartbreak, Jeffren Lumbo returns to the Philippine Golf Tour with renewed hunger and a steeled resolve, seeking to turn painful lessons into a breakthrough performance in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship, which blasts off Monday, Oct. 12, at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro. But the Sarangani ace will have his work cut out for him against a talent-laden field eager to seize the spotlight in the P2.5-million championship, with recent winners Art Arbole and Jhonnel Ababa leading the charge and golf legend Frankie Miñoza adding star power and prestige to the four-day tournament. Lumbo, whose lean frame belies his power off the tee, had two golden opportunities to claim his second career victory in the last two PGT stops. However, late-hole miscues and faltering finishes proved costly, allowing Arbole to clinch his maiden PGT title in Negros Occidental before Ababa ended a two-year title drought with a victory in Iloilo. The consecutive setbacks were particularly painful for Lumbo, who had put together four rounds of impressive golf in both tournaments only to fall short when the pressure mounted. Yet, rather than diminish his standing, the near-misses have underscored his potential as one of the Tour’s most dangerous emerging contenders — and given him added motivation to sharpen the decision-making and composure required to close out tight finishes. He is keeping his focus on the present, determined to put his best foot forward and enjoy the game. “I’m no longer thinking about my back-to-back second-place finishes heading into Pueblo de Oro. I’m just focused on my game and having fun,” said Lumbo. “I just hope everything clicks so I have a chance to win,” he added. The confidence is backed by a strong run of results. After capturing his maiden PGT crown in last year’s season-ending ICTSI South Pacific Championship in a dramatic five-hole playoff against Russell Bautista, Lumbo has continued to establish himself among the circuit’s leading contenders, posting three Top 10 finishes in the first five legs of the current season, including a runner-up effort to Lloyd Go at Pinewoods. His recent performances suggest that another victory is within reach. The challenge now is to sustain his sharp play when the stakes are highest, particularly over the closing holes where patience, discipline and sound judgment often prove decisive. Still, Lumbo’s bid for redemption will be tested by a formidable cast of challengers, including the very players who denied him in his last two starts. Arbole and Ababa will be out to capitalize on their newfound momentum, hoping their recent triumphs will provide the confidence and rhythm needed to sustain another title charge. Miñoza, meanwhile, brings a special dimension to the tournament with his rare appearance in the PGT field. One of Philippine golf’s most celebrated figures, the veteran campaigner is expected to draw added attention to the championship, lending it distinction while testing himself against a new generation of professionals and rising talents.

SHANGHAI — A mustached Carlos Alcaraz beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 6-3, 6-3, to kick-start his title bid at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday, days after winning the Tokyo Open for his first trophy since returning from injury. The Spanish star, seeded second, put on a dominant show to brush aside the 55th-ranked Argentinian in the second round in just 66 minutes. “Really, really happy with the way I played today. It wasn’t easy,” said the 23-year-old former number one. “Just had two days of preparation... I came from Tokyo, there were totally different conditions,” he added. “Just tried to play the best that I can.” Sporting a fresh moustache, Alcaraz signed a camera “Moustache Team” following his win. Asked by an on-court interviewer about the new look, Alcaraz said: “It’s gonna stay.” “It was just about a bet,” he elaborated later, telling reporters his team agreed to match moustaches in Shanghai if he won in Tokyo. “I wanted to play with a moustache, trying how I look with it,” he said. “So let’s see until when we’re going to wear it, but right now we’re just having fun.” He will play Zizou Bergs in the next round. Earlier, Daniil Medvedev fought back to beat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, in the second round, the Russian’s first match since being disqualified from the China Open. Medvedev was defaulted from his semifinal against Novak Djokovic in Beijing for hitting a spectator with a ball and ended the 500-level event with zero ranking points and no prize money. The former world number one said it was an accident. Playing five days later in Shanghai, sixth-ranked Medvedev overcame an early wobble to hold off 59th-ranked Struff. He sent down 21 aces to advance and will face Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina in the next round. World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime also survived a scare, needing three hours to beat 77th-ranked Camilo Ugo Carabelli, 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-5. The Canadian will play Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round. Several matches in the afternoon were suspended due to rain, but Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud and Arthur Fils all went through as play resumed.

MIAMI — Lionel Messi scored twice to help Inter Miami rout DC United, 4-0, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), taking a victory in his first match since saying farewell to the Argentina national team. Four nights after scoring in his final match for the Albiceleste in a victory over Benin, the 39-year-old South American superstar struck in the 47th and 60th minutes as defending MLS champion Miami won for only the second time in their past 11 league matches. A first-half brace by Luis Suarez staked the Herons to the lead as they improved to 13-5 with 10 drawn for 49 points, jumping from third to second in the Eastern Conference Messi hopes to make Miami the first team to win back-to-back MLS crowns since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011-12. Messi, the top point producer in the league with 23 goals plus assists on 13 others, seeks a third consecutive MLS Most Valuable Player award. Uruguayan striker Suarez scored in the third minute to give Miami the lead, blasting a left-footed shot from the heart of the box into the top left corner. Suarez struck again in the 39th for his 16th goal of the campaign, assisted like his first of the night by German Berterame. Messi blasted home a left-footed shot off an assist from Suarez to give Miami a 3-0 lead and evaded three defenders to add another goal 13 minutes later as the pink-clad hosts pulled away to stay. In other games, Scottish striker Lewis Morgan and American Djordje Mihailovic scored in second-half stoppage time to rally Toronto for a 2-1 home victory over Montreal. The visitors grabbed the lead in the Canadian clash on a goal by Mexican forward Daniel Rios in the 52nd minute. Toronto, however, battled back for the equalizer by winger Morgan, obtained last month from San Diego, in the third minute of stoppage time, his first regular-season MLS goal in two years. Former Montreal standout Mihailovic struck for the decider in the fifth minute of extra time. "Now I've scored on both sides of this derby," he said. "It feels good." Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak to pull within a point of an East playoff berth. AFP

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Adam Scott and Justin Thomas moved into contention at the PGA Tour's Baycurrent Classic in Japan on Saturday night, one stroke off the lead after three rounds at the Yokohama Country Club. Scott, looking for his first PGA Tour win in six years, shot a 6-under 65 which included two eagles and Thomas a 67. They were tied for fourth. First-round leader Jacob Bridgeman (69) was in a tie for the third-round lead with Michael Brennan (65) and PGA Tour rookie Zach Bauchou (67) with 13-under 200 totals. “You got to be pleased with that and something like that tomorrow might be enough,” Scott said of his 65. “It’s not a bad spot to be a few back. Hopefully we’ll be in for a great day.” The PGA Tour’s lone stop in Asia features its strongest field of the FedEx Cup Fall series, with 13 of the 24 players who competed in the Presidents Cup two weeks ago at Medinah in the Chicago suburbs. In Madrid, Joe Dean of England made eight birdies in 15 holes, then recovered from a rough two-hole stretch by closing with a 30-foot birdie putt for a 6-under 65 and a share of the lead Saturday with Grant Forrest of Scotland in the Spanish Open. Forrest had a 67 to join Dean at 13-under 200, one shot ahead of Victor Perez, Joel Girrbach and Jacob Skov Olesen going into the final round. Dean won his first European title just six weeks ago in the British Masters. A victory Sunday would move him well into the top 10 in the Race to Dubai and practically assure the 32-year-old from England a PGA Tour card for 2027. He was brilliant for much of the third round, piling up eight birdies to take over the lead. But on the par-4 16th, he went bunker-to-bunker, came up short of the green, chipped too strong and missed a 15-foot putt to make double bogey. Then, he went long on the par-3 17th for another bogey. But he saved himself at the end with a birdie to share the 54-hole lead. Eugenio Chacarra, who is playing with a foot injury after banging his toe in the middle of the night, had a 70 and was five shots behind. Chacarra is trying to overtake American Patrick Reed for the lead in the Race to Dubai. Reed missed the 36-hole cut on Friday. AP

NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns has been traded from Minnesota, lost the conference finals and won the NBA title for his childhood team — and still feels he is in the period of grief that began six years ago. Just 10 days before the New York Knicks’ banner-raising celebration, the All-Star big man marked World

SINGAPORE — Results from Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit (62 laps): 1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 305 km in 1hr 42min 0.785sec, 2. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) at 7.335sec, 3. Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes) at 24.573, 4. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) at 40.506, 5. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) at 49.644, 6. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari) at 53.188, 7. Liam Lawson (NZL/RB) at 1:21.666, 8. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Audi) at 1:23.386, 9. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) at 1:24.677, 10. Isack Hadjar (FRA/Red Bull) at 1:30.862, 11. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine) at 1 lap, 12. Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas) at 1 lap, 13. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas) at 1 lap, 14. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Williams) at 1 lap, 15. Arvid Lindblad (GBR/RB) at 1 lap, 16. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) at 1 lap, 17. Sergio Perez (MEX/Cadillac) at 2 laps, 18. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams) at 3 laps, 19. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Cadillac) at 3 laps The other competitors were not classified World Championship standings Drivers 1. Kimi Antonelli (ITA) 340 pts, 2. George Russell (GBR) 238, 3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 229, 4. Max Verstappen (NED) 221, 5. Charles Leclerc (MON) 215, 6. Lando Norris (GBR) 201, 7. Oscar Piastri (AUS) 138, 8. Isack Hadjar (FRA) 97, 9. Liam Lawson (NZL) 75, 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 41, 11. Arvid Lindblad (GBR) 38, 12. Franco Colapinto (ARG) 27, 13. Oliver Bearman (GBR) 23, 14. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 13, 15. Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA) 10, 16. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 7, 17. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 7, 18. Carlos Sainz (ESP) 7, 19. Alexander Albon (THA) 5, 20. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) 1 Constructors 1. Mercedes 578 pts, 2. Ferrari 444, 3. McLaren 339, 4. Red Bull 332, 5. RB 100, 6. Alpine 68, 7. Haas 30, 8. Audi 23, 9. Williams 12, 10. Aston Martin 7

Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance to win the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday, securing his second straight victory of the season after a perfect weekend that included a sprint race triumph.

Red-hot Magnolia continued to roll in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup by decimating longtime rival Barangay Ginebra, 112-93, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Alex Eala is back on the hardcourt as she launches her WTA1000 Wuhan Open campaign against Chinese qualifier Han Shi in the Round of 64 at the Dongfeng Voyah Center Court.

MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia started like a house on fire and managed to sustain its hot start to pulverize Barangay Ginebra, 112-93 to seal a playoff berth in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. Six Hotshots scored in double figures led by Zavier Lucero who flirted with a double-double after finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds. Jerome Lastimosa added 16, Mark Barroca had 15, while import KJ Buffen produced 14 and 10 rebounds.  Peter Alfaro and Ian Sangalang added 12 and 10, respectively. The Hotshots have gone 2-0 in their head-to-head match up versus the Gin Kings following their 87-72 win on Aug. 2. Magnolia improved to 6-3 to maintain the lead in Group B standings. Ginebra fell to 3-5. Earlier, Converge clobbered a listless Titan Ultra, 152-119 to also secure a playoff spot. Juan Gomez De Liaño delivered a triple-double of 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists as the FiberXers' victory shut the playoffs door on the Giant Risers. Titan Ultr fell to 2-8, in a tie with Macau in Group A. Gomez de Liaño and import Cameron Clark combined to score 28 of Converge’s 53 points in the final quarter to seal the lopsided win. The FiberXers improved to 6-4, a tie with the TNT Tropang 5G at third spot in Group A.

MANILA, Philippines — University of Perpetual Help System DALTA outworked San Beda University in a challenging marathon showdown, 28-30, 25-19, 23-25, 25-17, 16-14, to enter the win column in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.  Jemalyn Menor took over on offense but Cyrille Almeniana delivered the crucial points in the extended deciding set as the Lady Altas bounced back from an opening-day loss. Perpetual tied idle Letran in second to third with a 1-1 win-loss record in Pool A of the league’s centerpiece competition, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R&B Milk Tea.     “Talagang nagtulungan kami sa loob ng court, pinaghirapan namin talaga ito para maipanalo ‘yung game namin ngayong araw,” said Menor, who led all scorers with 25 points on 23 kills, one ace and one kill block. “Pinush lang kami ni coach (Sandy Rieta) na magtiwala lang kami sa sarili namin and nagtulungan kami sa loob ng court,” she added. It was a tight crawl to the finish line in the fifth frame. The Lady Red Spikers erased the Lady Altas’ two-point lead and knotted it at 13 after Almeniana’s tip-in went wide. She got a point back on a combination play that put Perpetual at matchpoint. Angel Habacon answered with a hit to tie it at 14 before Almeniana put matters in her own hands with the match-clinching back-to-back hits to end the two-hour, 45-minute battle.    Almeniana had 14 points, 13 from attacks, Edel Valdez had 10 markers while Rae Palacio scored eight for the Lady Altas, who had 14 kill blocks and received 45 free points off San Beda’ 45 errors.     Perpetual boosted its chances of joining pool leader five-peat-seeking National University in the next round. The Lady Bulldogs secured a playoffs spot after winning three straight games without dropping a single set. Only the top two teams in each pool will move on to the next phase of the tournament, supported by Smart, PusoP.com DICT, Executive Optical, Milo and Summit Natural Drinking Water.      Last year’s runner-up University of Santo Tomas (2-0) in Pool B, Far Eastern University (2-0) in Pool C and University of the Philippines (2-0) in Pool D are all through to the second stage of the competition, which has Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, Jersey Haven, Solar Sports and 12 Beyond Production as technical partners. The Lady Red Spikers suffered a second straight defeat in as many starts. Habacon had 16 points on 13 spikes, two kills blocks and an ace, Daisy Cagas finished with 12 markers while Jermaine Joniega and Aiezel Parumog added nine each for the Mendiola-based squad. Games continue on Friday with Letran taking on San Beda at 1 p.m. followed by the 3 p.m. clash between Jose Rizal University and College of Saint Benilde. NU closes its pool play campaign against Perpetual at 5 p.m.     All games are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports. TMT

Zheng Qinwen became the first home winner of the China Open on Sunday as she beat Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4, in front of a partisan crowd in Beijing. The former world No 4 and current Olympic champion was a wild-card entry, having struggled with form and fitness after elbow surgery in 2025. At one point this year she had dropped as low as 122nd in the world. It was the 54th-ranked Zheng’s first title in nearly two years, and her first ever at the WTA 1000 level, and tears filled...

SAN FRANCISCO — Guard Brandin Podziemski has received a five-year rookie-scale contract extension from the Golden State Warriors worth $110 million that takes him through the 2031-32 season, according to a person with direct knowledge of the agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday night because the team didn’t disclose financial details in

A resurgent Zheng Qinwen charged into the China Open final on Saturday, beating Elise Mertens 7-5, 6-2, and will play Mirra Andreeva for the title at her home tournament. It is another step in the Olympic gold medalist’s injury comeback, following a gritty showing at last month’s US Open where she reached the quarterfinals. Zheng,

SAN FRANCISCO — Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud was taken off the court in a wheelchair Saturday night after going down with a right knee injury suffered when he set a screen on Stephen Curry late in the first half of a 111-106 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors. Raynaud, a second-year pro who

MANILA, Philippines -- University of the Philippines denied a furious De La Salle fightback, 80-76, at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday to snap a 2-game skid in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament.   The Fighting Maroons squandered a 14-point, 67-53 lead after the defending champs Green Archers unleashed a 20-5 run capped by a Jacob Cortez trey to take a 73-72 cushion in the last 2:40.   UP avoided total collapse in the battle of the finalists of the previous three seasons thanks to the clutch baskets and free throws of Veejay Pre, Dikachi Ududo, James Payosing, and Noy Remogat, who split his charities to seal it for the state university with five ticks left.   Doy Dungo uncorked one more trey for La Salle but missed.   Remogat fired 20 points and four rebounds for the Fighting Maroons, who improved to 3-2 for a share of third place with the Adamson Soaring Falcons.   The Archers fell to 3-3 tied with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in fourth place.

The University of the Philippines fended off De La Salle University's comeback act, escaping with a gutsy 80-76 win in their finals rematch at the UAAP Season 89 on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

He’s been “one of the hardest horses for me to train in my career”, but Caspar Fownes has high hopes for Megastar Heart finally fulfilling his potential after a stunning return at Sha Tin on Sunday. Restricted to three local starts after battling ongoing problems, the Australian import rewarded Fownes and the Good Time Syndicate’s patience with a dominant two-length win in the Class Three San Tin Handicap (1,200m). The performance was not a surprise to Fownes, who said Megastar Heart could...

LAS VEGAS — Anything short of a WNBA championship is considered a disappointment for the Aces, so changes almost certainly are coming after Las Vegas was swept out of the semifinals by Golden State on Friday night. Whether that change involves the Big Three is the Aces’ biggest question entering the offseason because five-time All-Star

Juan Gomez de Liaño put on a show to help Converge overcome a third-quarter barrage from Titan Ultra and complete a 152-119 win to extend its PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup streak on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

David Hall rang up his 700th Hong Kong win at Sha Tin on Sunday after Ka Ying Attack capped his double with a barnstorming win the Class Two Yuen Long Handicap (1,200m). Ending last season with a pair of smashing front-running successes, the Too Darn Hot galloper made his return needing to overcome barrier 10 with a huge amount of pace drawn to his inside. Despite that, he was well backed into $5.5 behind fellow hat-trick seeker and favourite Jumbo Treasure and Turquoise Velocity, and was...

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino tennis ace and world No. 18 Alex Eala faces Chinese qualifier and world No. 231 Han Shi to start her WTA 1000 Wuhan Open campaign at the Dongfeng Voyah Center Court Monday evening. The Eala-Han match unfolds around 9 p.m. following the all-Chinese contest between Wang Xiyu and Wang Xinyu at 7:30 p.m. Eala's first round encounter against fellow 21-year-old Han will be her first since her bronze medal finish at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Eala fell to Wang Xiyu in the semifinal to settle for bronze. Han advanced to the main draw after defeating Peyton Stearns, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, in the first round of the qualifiers on Saturday and Uzbek Kamilla Rakhimova in the second, 7-6, 6-1, on Sunday.

MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Solomon is moving to Thailand as part of champion team Nakhon Ratchasima 3M Films VC ahead of the next Thailand League season. The former National University star was part of the roster unveiling on Saturday. Her latest stint for an international club comes after suiting up for Alas Pilipinas in the

Cycling bosses issued a fulsome apology on Sunday after furious riders branded The Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon a “bike-pushing festival” and the city “the international capital of embarrassing fails”. A chaotic end and mid-race route change in the 32km (19.9 mile) ride prompted myriad complaints from competitors, with most angry at being turned away from Ting Kau Bridge and then finding themselves forced to complete the course on foot. In a lengthy statement, the Cycling...

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament   Adamson def. UE, 71-64 Ray Allen Torres Player of the game #UAAPSeason89

Adamson University found its touch just in time to salvage a 71-64 win against University of the East and bounce back in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson University woke up in time to hold off University of the East, 71-64, to bounce back in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday.  The Soaring Falcons soared to a 22-point, 54-32 halftime lead but scored three points only in the third quarter, as the Red Warriors unleashed 17 to pull within eight, 49-57, entering the final canto. Adamson answered UE for the rest of the way, though, to recover from its loss to NU and rise to 3-2 for a share of third place with De La Salle as of posting time. UE dropped to 0-6.

Cinemas across China will throw open their doors for a special showing on Sunday, but it isn’t the latest blockbuster fans are flocking to see – it’s tennis star Zheng Qinwen. The Olympic champion has finally broken her country’s China Open curse, and will be the first home player to compete in a singles final, men’s or women’s, since Chen Li lost to Chinese Taipei’s Wang Shi-ting in 1996. With the National Tennis Centre in Beijing selling out, cinemas across the mainland have opted to show the...

MANILA, Philippines – A first Order of Merit crown is within Yvon Bisera’s reach, but Harmie Constantino stands in the way – and with three legs left in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour season, the race for supremacy is shaping up as a down-to-the-wire battle. Bisera and Constantino lead a talented field heading into the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship, which gets under way Monday (Oct. 12) at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro.  The P1.25-million championship kicks off a three-leg Mindanao swing that will decide not only the season’s remaining tournament titles but also the coveted OOM crown. Armed with a pair of victories and three other strong finishes, Bisera has built a commanding position atop the season-long rankings, with total earnings of P439,150. But the margin offers little room for complacency, especially with Constantino, a former OOM champion, mounting a determined bid to reclaim the distinction she won in 2024. Constantino sits second with P377,100 after also delivering a runaway victory at Caliraya Springs, leaving her with a clear target as the Tour enters its decisive stretch. The final three legs offer ample opportunity to overhaul the standings, putting a premium on consistency and clutch performances when the pressure is at its highest. Bisera, for her part, has shown she can win in contrasting fashion. She opened her title run with a nerve-wracking three-way playoff victory at Lakewood before asserting her dominance at Pradera Verde, where she romped to a commanding seven-shot triumph. Those results, complemented by three other strong finishes, including a runner-up effort at Summit Point, have given her the upper hand in the OOM race. But the ace Davaoeña knows that a strong finish – not past accomplishments – will ultimately determine whether she can convert her season-long consistency into a maiden OOM title. The Mindanao swing, which will conclude at South Pacific and Apo in the next two weeks, thus presents Bisera with both an opportunity to consolidate her lead and a stern test of her ability to sustain her form under mounting pressure. Beyond the leading pair, several proven winners are eager to make their presence felt after campaigns marked by flashes of brilliance but not enough consistency to keep them regularly in contention. Princess Superal and Tiffany Lee are among those seeking to revive their title bids. Both have the credentials to challenge the field, but uneven results have kept them from producing the podium finishes their talent promises. A change of venue – snd the distinct demands of Pueblo de Oro – could provide the spark they need to turn their seasons around. The Cagayan de Oro layout offers a compelling test for the field, with natural ravines, rolling hills and five interconnected lakes shaping a course that rewards precision, sound course management and the ability to adapt. Panoramic views of the Bukidnon mountains add to its appeal, while occasional glimpses of Macajalar Bay from the back nine provide a striking backdrop to the competition. Hosting an LPGT event for the first time in a long while, Pueblo de Oro brings a different character to the Tour’s closing stretch. The venue hosted two Junior PGT events this year, including the North vs. South Finals, and its management has maintained the course in top condition year-round to ensure it remains competitive for tournaments of the LPGT’s caliber. The championship also offers a fresh opportunity for a formidable group of contenders looking to salvage their campaigns, build momentum and make a late push for honors. Reigning OOM champion Sarah Ababa heads the list of players seeking redemption, alongside multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda and Daniella Uy. They will be joined by Martina Miñoza, Pamela Mariano, Apple Fudolin, Velinda Castil, Kayla Nocum, Marvi Monsalve, Rev Alcantara, Eunhua Nam, Monica Mandario, Eva Miñoza and Angela Mangana, all capable of making a charge if they find their rhythm on the challenging layout. Four of the country’s leading amateurs will also test their skills against the professionals, adding another layer of intrigue to the championship. Ace Superal and Isabella Tabanas will be joined by JPGT standouts Rafella Batican and Precious Zaragosa, while club invitee Eleana Dumalaog will relish the opportunity to measure her game against the country’s top campaigners. TMT