FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start her 20th Asian Games women's singles gold medal bid at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya, Japan. The 21-year-old Eala arrived in Japan on Saturday evening. Seeded No. 1 in the continental meet with a first-round bye, world No. 18 Eala takes on No. 510 Cheapchandej in the second round likely on Monday. The order of play for Monday's matches wasn't revealed yet as of writing. Cheapchandej dominated Pakistani Mahin Aftab Qureshi, 6-1, 6-1, in their first-round clash that lasted only 53 minutes on Sunday. If Eala gets past Cheapchandej, she will face either Iranian Mandegar Farzami or Taiwanese Joanna Garland in the quarterfinals. Eala also competes in the doubles side with Shaira Rivera, as they face the Hong Kong tandem of Lai Ching Laam and Liu Kallista in the first round. A win by Eala and Rivera would pit them against the Chinese duo of Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan in the second round. Jiang and Yang received a first-round bye. Meanwhile, another Filipino women's singles bet Tennielle Madis fell to No. 7 seed Himeno Sakatsume in the first round, 1-6, 0-6, on Sunday. At press time, Philippine mixed doubles players Rivera and Francis Alcantara were facing the Iranian tandem of Meshkatolzahra Safi and Kasra Rahmani in the first round.

WHILE there had been many speculations on Justin Brownlee’s health status, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone stressed that the beloved Gin Kings import “intends to return.” “We're in communication with him. He intends to return, but no date yet,” Cone told The Manila Times over the weekend. The American mentor did not say what has made the four-time PBA Best Import, except to reply in the affirmative that Brownlee continues to recover from his injuries. The 38-year-old Brownlee has been out of commission for over two months already since he last suited up for Gilas Pilipinas in a double overtime loss to New Zealand in Auckland last July in the third window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. Brownlee then, missed the away game versus Australia in Perth, along with a pair of home games of the fourth window where Gilas beat Jordan and Iran, respectively. The seven-time PBA champion import also missed Gilas’ recent stint in the Asian Games where the national team failed to retain its men’s basketball crown in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Puerto Rican forward Jordan Murphy,  G League veteran, has been tapped to serve as Ginebra’s import when the Season 50 Governors’ Cup resumes in the first week of October. Murphy arrived last Thursday and will continue what Riley Grigsby started for the Gin Kings. The Gin Kings struggled with Grigsby as their import after winning just two of their first six games, slumping at the bottom of the Group B standings in the process just before the league took a break to give way for Cone and Gilas’ international tournaments. Grigsby averaged 31.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks in a solid pinch-hitting job through six games stint with the Gin Kings. Cone expects Murphy to create an impact on both ends of the floor. “We expect him to be an in to out player. We’ve only had him for one practice, so there is more to learn about him,” said Cone.

MEDINAH, Illinois — Canada’s Corey Conners capped a late fightback and the Internationals were poised to snap a 28-year win drought, leading the United States by three points after Saturday’s (Sunday in Manila) four-ball and foursomes matches at the Presidents Cup. The Internationals took a 10.5-7.5 edge into Sunday’s 12 concluding singles golf matches at Medinah, leading on US soil for the first time after pairs matches. Australian Min Woo Lee and British Open champion Ryan Fox of New Zealand rallied to beat US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Sam Burns 3&2 while Canada’s Conners and Nick Taylor, three down after 10 holes, shocked Jacob Bridgeman and Russell Henley 1-up. “No giving up. We knew it was going to be a battle,” Conners said. “We gave them a few holes early on, did a good job of just staying with them. It feels good to get it done.” The Internationals swept Friday’s foursomes matches to grab a four-point lead and they clung to the edge even though the Americans went 4-3-1 in Saturday’s matches. “Our guys battled hard. It was a tough day. I was proud of the way they hung in there,” US captain Brandt Snedeker said. “Stay the course. It’s going to be a long hard day tomorrow.” Internationals captain Geoff Ogilvy of Australia was overjoyed at the fightback foursomes split. “Amazing. Having all red on the board, being down in every match, for the boys to come back and split points in the session was great,” he said. The Americans, who lead the all-time rivalry 13-1-1, seek an 11th consecutive victory with each side needing 15.5 points to hoist the trophy. US President Donald Trump, who attended the Americans’ Ryder Cup loss last year, is expected to watch Sunday at the suburban Chicago layout where Europe rallied for an epic 2012 “Miracle at Medinah” Ryder Cup victory over the Americans. The Internationals, who took their only victory in 1998 at Australia, had been heavy underdogs with the US team boasting eight of the world’s 11 top-ranked golfers. Lee and Fox took three of the last four holes to win. Lee made a 23-foot birdie putt at the par-three seventh to equalize and the global side never trailed again. “We turned it around, which was awesome,” Lee said. Conners and Taylor sparkled late as Henley and Bridgeman stumbled. Taylor’s five-foot par putt won the 11th and his 11-footer took the 12th before US bogeys at 14 and 15 gave the Canadians their first lead, setting up Conners’ winning six-foot par putt at 18. Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup won their second match of the day, routing Australian Adam Scott and South Korean Im Sung-jae 6&4. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele also led from the front in handing a 2&1 loss to South Koreans Tom Kim and Kim Si-woo. The Americans, swept in Friday foursomes to trail 7-3, went 2-1-1 in Saturday morning four-ball matches to trim the deficit. Kim and Kim defeated Clark and Collin Morikawa 2&1. Kim Si-woo sank a birdie putt from just beyond 12 feet at 16 then made a 16-foot birdie putt at 17 to seal victory.

LOS ANGELES — The Golden State Warriors have extended their long-term deal with superstar Stephen Curry for two more years in a deal worth a reported $116 million, the basketball franchise announced. "A true legend of the Bay, here to stay. The Golden State Warriors have signed four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry to a contract extension," the California franchise said on its X account. Sports broadcaster ESPN reported that the Warriors point guard had signed a new two-year contract, with an option for an additional year, worth $116 million. Curry, 38, holds a number of records, including the NBA's all-time record for three-pointers. The player famous for constantly chewing his mouthguard will begin his 18th season at the highest level of world basketball in late October, having spent his entire career with the same team. This summer, the franchise also extended the contract of its other stalwart, Draymond Green, for one season and $28 million, after failing in an attempt to sign LeBron James. Green, 36, has likewise spent his entire career with the Warriors, who selected him in the 2012 draft. In May, coach Steve Kerr signed a new two-year deal with the Warriors. He joined the franchise in 2014 and has since guided them to four NBA championships, in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.

SINGAPORE — Leylah Fernandez reached her first WTA final of the year after the Canadian recovered from a poor start to beat Poland's Maja Chwalinska in the Singapore Tennis Open on Saturday night. The sixth seed dropped the first five games of the semifinal against her fifth-seeded opponent but came back strongly to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 to set up a final against unseeded Australian Talia Gibson on Sunday. Gibson advanced to her first WTA final after her semifinal opponent Tatiana Prozorova was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to the WTA's concussion protocol. Fernandez was broken in all four of her service games in the opening set by fellow left-hander Chwalinska. Galvanized by vocal support, the Canadian raised her game in the second set and earned a crucial break to take a 5-4 lead before holding serve to level the match. The world number 31 then broke Chwalinska twice, and set up match point with an ace before firing a powerful backhand down the line to secure victory in two hours and eight minutes. It will be Fernandez's first WTA final since she won last year's Japan Open. The unseeded Prozorova stunned third seed Alexandrea Eala in the round of 16 on Thursday and then beat China's Wang Xinyu in a gruelling three-set quarterfinal the next day. However, the Russian was struck in the face by the ball while playing in the doubles quarterfinals later on Friday. Prozorova had to withdraw from that match and then had to sit out the singles semifinal after the WTA physiotherapist diagnosed her with concussion. The WTA said players diagnosed with concussion cannot compete until they complete a graduated return-to-play protocol and receive medical clearance.

Most of Sunday’s athletics events at the Asian Games were seen by many as background noise to the women’s javelin clash between China sensation Yan Ziyi and Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi, although don’t dare suggest that to Singapore’s Shanti Pereira. While the much-anticipated throwing competition was ultimately as damp as the rain that blanketed Nagoya for much of the day, Pereira’s breathless victory in the women’s 200m was everything sprinting is supposed to be. The 30-year-old’s successful...

NEW YORK — A'ja Wilson is in a class by herself, winning the AP's WNBA Player of the Year award for an unprecedented third straight year. Wilson received 15 of the 17 first-place votes from a national media panel Sunday. She topped Olivia Miles of Minnesota as well as Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana, who all had stellar seasons. “It’s big. It's an honor for me to do it three times in a row. It’s not easy,” Wilson said in a phone interview. “My counterparts in this league are really good. I don’t take it lightly because of how much talent we do have in this league." It's the fourth time that Wilson has won the AP award, breaking a tie with Breanna Stewart for most since the awards were first given in 2016. “That’s got a nice ring to it,” Wilson said. “That’s pretty cool.” The AP voting is done by a 17-member panel that votes on the power poll each week. It’s the 11th year of the awards. The WNBA will announce its postseason awards over the course of the playoffs, which begin Sunday. Wilson is a huge favorite to win the WNBA MVP for the third straight season. Wilson once again led the league in scoring (26.2) while shooting nearly 53% from the field. She also averaged 9.4 rebounds, a career-best 3.2 assists and 1.9 blocks. Angel Reese dethroned Wilson as the AP Defensive Player of the Year. Wilson had won the award in three of the last four seasons. Reese made the most of her move to Atlanta this offseason. She was third in the league in steals and had the versatility to guard most positions defensively. She also topped the league in rebounds for the third consecutive season. Miles had an incredible first season and was honored as the AP Rookie of the Year as a unanimous choice. The No. 2 pick in the draft by the Lynx averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds to help Minnesota finish with the best record in the league. She set the WNBA record for points by a rookie, surpassing Clark's from 2024. Miles was joined on the AP All-Rookie team by Dallas' Azzi Fudd, Chicago's Sydney Taylor, Seattle's Flau'jae Johnson, New York's Pauline Astier and Toronto's Kiki Rice. Wilson, Clark, Miles and Mitchell headlined the AP All-WNBA first team. They were joined by New York's Stewart. Reese was on the second team along with teammate Rhyne Howard, Dallas' Paige Bueckers, Las Vegas' Jackie Young and Golden State's Gabby Williams. Other AP winners included: — Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve. It's the third time the Lynx coach has won the award, also being honored in 2020 and 2024. She guided the team to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs while it was missing superstar Napheesa Collier for the first half of the season when she recovered from offseason surgery on both her ankles. Reeve beat out Golden State's Natalie Nakase and Washington's Sydney Johnson. — Comeback Player of the Year: Clark. The Fever guard missed much of last season with a variety of injuries. She came back strong this year, playing in 40 games. She averaged 22.3 points, 8.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Washington's Georgia Amoore and Chicago's Courtney Vandersloot also received votes. — Most Improved Player: Jessica Shepard. The Dallas Wings forward came to the team as a free agent and excelled. Shepard averaged career highs in points (14.5), rebounds (11.1), assists (5.3) and minutes (31.7). Shepard had six triple-doubles this season. Washington's Shakira Austin and Seattle Dominique Malonga were next in the balloting. — Sixth Woman of the Year: Janelle Salaun. The Valkyries forward came off the bench in all 40 games she played this season and averaged 12.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 39.2% from behind the 3-point line. She led all reserves in scoring this season and the Golden State bench averaged over 36 points a game. Marine Johannes of New York was next in the voting.

China’s Wang Manyu beat compatriot and defending champion Sun Yingsha in the women’s singles final at the Asian Games on Sunday to cement her position as the sport’s new table tennis queen. Wang’s win came days after she displaced Sun at the top of the world rankings. China also enjoyed success in the men’s doubles final, with Huang Youzheng and Lin Shidong beating Japan’s Harimoto Tomokazu and Shinozuka Hiroto 4-2. Wang reclaimed the title she last won at the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018,...

He did not win, but in finishing within a whisker of George Russell's triumphant Mercedes on Saturday, Max Verstappen showed he could be a factor in this year's drivers' title race. With at least seven races to go, depending on the survival of the season-ending events in the Middle East, the four-time champion's pace and commitment in his resurgent Red Bull could upset Mercedes' supremacy. As championship leader Kimi Antonelli showed signs of vulnerability in Baku, even with a 66-point cushion, AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Saturday's dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix: - Verstappen remains a force - Having signed a new contract to settle his future and driving a car that is rapidly improving, Verstappen is chasing a long-awaited 72nd victory. He has not won since last year's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and is in danger of completing a season winless for the first time since he joined Red Bull 10 years ago. Given McLaren's inconsistency and Ferrari's recent decline, he and team-mate Isack Hadjar can emerge as the chief threat to Mercedes as the F1 circus flies to Asia for a Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia followed by the Singapore race. "I was close and it was fun," said Verstappen after a strong drive from eighth on the grid to finish less than two-tenths adrift of Russell. "For most of the race, we were on the wrong tires because the medium, unfortunately, didn't work like a lot of people expected. "Once we swapped to the soft, you could see George and I were pulling away. Can we win a race? We'll keep trying, and we'll see what happens!" Hadjar returned from injury to finish third. "The car is great," he said. "This weekend it was the second-fastest. I took it easy to avoid the walls and it was my comeback." "I had the better grip, but honestly I was fine to sit behind Max. Third was my target and I'm satisfied." With a power unit that the team has developed into one of the strongest, Red Bull could shake up the run-in. - Briatore ponders Colapinto future - Alpine team boss Flavio Briatore said he will reflect before deciding what action to take after Franco Colapinto's "rush of blood" crash into his team-mate Pierre Gasly, who then smashed into world champion Lando Norris's McLaren, wiping all three out of the race. It cost Alpine a solid points haul. Norris called for a one-race ban for Colapinto but race stewards settled for a 10-second time penalty, converted into a five-place grid drop for the next race. "I feel very sorry for the team and for Pierre and my apologies also go to Lando and McLaren for ruining their race," said Briatore. "I know that Franco has taken full responsibility for it, as he should -- he braked far too late considering the context of the race and the safety car restart. It was a very poor move for a driver of his experience. "I want to take time to reflect and consider what action should be taken." The Argentine driver was fortunate to keep his seat this year and Briatore will surely consider alternatives for 2027. - Russell can press Antonelli - Kimi Antonelli faces a test of his composure and emotions after Mercedes team-mate Russell ramped up the pressure for the run-in. The 20-year-old Italian's 66-point lead looks solid enough, but Russell returned to winning form with his first 'grand slam' of pole position, fastest lap and leading from lights to flag. "I never lost faith in myself," said Russell, after his eighth career win. "Even in the tough moments. So I am confident and I've been on the front row of the grid in three of the last four races and had three podiums. I can fight for victory now, week in and week out."

China’s 15-year-old Zhu Yuanling won gold in the women’s street skateboarding competition at the Asian Games on Sunday, the latest in a series of young winners at this edition of the continental multi-sport event. Zhu’s win came a day after Japanese primary school student Yuki Kurihara, 11, demolished opponents three times his age on the way to a historic gold in esports. Earlier in the Games, Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, 13, became one of the faces of the event with three golds, all in record...

China’s 15-year-old Zhu Yuanling won gold in the women’s street skateboarding competition at the Asian Games on Sunday, the latest in a series of young winners at this edition of the continental multi-sport event. Zhu’s win came a day after Japanese primary school student Yuki Kurihara, 11, demolished opponents three times his age on the way to a historic gold in esports. Earlier in the Games, Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, 13, became one of the faces of the event with three golds, all in record...

Complaints about cramped rooms and small beds surfaced on social media from athletes staying in the modular units, as organizers get flak for not building a traditional Athletes' Village.

Apprentice Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu continued a season full of milestones with her first Hong Kong treble at Sha Tin on Sunday which saw her claim reduced to 7lb. Perhaps fittingly, she claimed both accolades by edging out Zac Purton with a masterful ride to get Aeroinvincible from pillar to post in the Class Three Kestrel Handicap (1,400m). “It was a very tight finish, I thought I lost the race. I was riding against Zac Purton again and I beat him again, sorry not sorry,” Yuen joked. “Quite a few...

MANILA, Philippines -- The Phlippine National Volleyball Federation acknowledged the grievances of Alas Pilipinas team captain Bryan Bagunas in an interview following the national team's 16-25, 25-27, 22-25 opening loss to South Korea in the 20th Asian Games men's volleyball tournament in Japan Sunday. Bagunas said that the team lacked in financial support to the point that players have to shoulder expenses from their personal pockets and even borrow money. "We acknowledge the concerns raised by Mr. Bagunas in his recent interview," the PNVF wrote in a statement.  "We recognize the sacrifices our athletes have made, including having to shoulder their own expenses and, in some instances, borrow money. This is a situation that no National Athlete should ever have to endure." Led by president Frank Lao, the PNVF said that it will work harder to cater to the needs of the athletes.  "Our national athletes deserve a Federation that works just as hard for them as they battle for our country. Our athletes deserve better. Philippine volleyball deserves better. And we will work tirelessly to deliver better." PNVF shared that it inherited financial burden from the previous administration led by Tonyboy Liao, making it hard for the federation to function. "When President Frank Lao assumed leadership of PNVF in August 2026, he inherited a Federation burdened with substantial financial liabilities and outstanding obligations," the PNVF shared. "While there have been reports of funding received by the PNVF from various sources, the current leadership is in the midst of a comprehensive inventory and accounting of its financial records, including reconciling funds previously received and determining their corresponding disbursements.  "We remain committed to establishing a clear and accurate picture of the Federation's financial position and ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of its resources." The PNVF said these problems don't excuse the federation to cater to the urgent needs of the athletes today, though. Hence, Lao used his personal funds to provide allowances to the men's national team. This contradicts Bagunas' claims that the national team has only been receiving allowances from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and not from the PNVF. "President Frank Lao has personally advanced funds to address many of the immediate concerns raised by our National Teams. In particular, before their departure for the Asian Games, President Lao personally provided allowances to the men's national team," the PNVF said. "He also facilitated the necessary ticketing and visa requirements to ensure that certain members of the National Team would be available to participate in the Asian Games.  Furthermore, when the National Team requested an additional round-trip ticket for one of its members, the Federation accommodated the request. These are among the measures undertaken by the current leadership to address the immediate needs of our athletes while working toward more sustainable solutions. Nevertheless, we agree with Mr. Bagunas. These efforts are not enough."

Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Invincible Ibis exceeded trainer Mark Newnham’s expectations on his return to record a thrilling victory in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Handing Newnham and jockey Luke Ferraris back-to-back wins in the HK$4.2 million feature, Invincible Ibis ran on strongly from midfield and held off a late burst from Galaxy Patch to score by a neck. The son of Hellbent made a statement in his return from last season, which saw him claim Champion...

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) admitted to its shortcomings in financially supporting its athletes after Alas Men veteran Bryan Bagunas raised concerns over the lack of allowances in their Asian Games campaign.

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas team captain Bryan Bagunas has voiced deep frustration over the national team's financial struggles, revealing that players have not received their allowances since July and have resorted to borrowing money just to commute to training. The revelation came shortly after the squad's straight-sets loss to Japan, where Bagunas scored a team-high 15 points. Speaking on behalf of the squad, the team captain highlighted how the financial strain is hurting player morale and training attendance, particularly for younger student-athletes. "It’s really sad because we represent the country, but we don’t feel the support meant for us. I’m really affected, especially for the younger players," Bagunas shared. He added that the lack of transportation funds often prevents players from attending practice, sometimes leaving as few as seven or eight athletes on the court. The financial burden has followed the squad overseas. While in Japan for their campaign, players have had to pay out-of-pocket for basic necessities like meals when training schedules clash with hotel dining hours. Outside of basic Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) allowances, Bagunas noted that team members are forced to shoulder their own daily expenses. The current national team roster retains the same core lineup from the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, now competing in the Asian Games. The squad is led by heavy hitters Bagunas and Marck Espejo, outside hitters Buds Buddin and Jude Garcia, and opposite spikers Leo Ordiales and John Lirck Mendoza. The national team's financial complaints follow recent administrative changes within the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), which elected businessman Frank Lao as its new president.

MANILA, Philippines — Working his way back to form over the last two years, Zanieboy Gialon returns to the very venue where he last tasted victory, hoping to put everything together again when the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge blasts off Tuesday (Sept. 29) at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club. Gialon ended a two-year title drought the last time the Philippine Golf Tour visited the country’s oldest golf course, then known as Santa Barbara, in 2024. He turned what was expected to be a tight, furious finish into a runaway six-shot victory over Angelo Que and Ira Alido. Now, two years removed from that successful week in Iloilo, the 37-year-old Davao del Sur native finds himself in a familiar position: contending again, but still searching for that elusive next victory. He has threatened in several tournaments during the current season, only to fall short when it mattered most. But his latest showing in last week’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic could provide the boost he needs heading back to a course where he has already proven he can win. Gialon finished solo fourth at Marapara, staying in contention deep into the final round with a two-under 33 on the front nine. He, however, could not sustain the charge, settling for a closing 35 and a 68 to finish three shots behind champion Art Arbole. The result nevertheless marked another encouraging performance for Gialon, who also posted a Top 5 finish at Caliraya Springs, the site of his 2022 triumph. His other results have been less consistent, including a missed cut at Lakewood, a tie for 15th at Pinewoods, a joint 15th at Pradera and a share of 24th at Summit Point. But the Marapara performance could be particularly significant heading to Iloilo. Like the Marapara layout, Iloilo is tight and tricky, with doglegs and hazards that demand patience and sound decision-making. Aggressive play can yield rewards, but misplaced attacks can prove costly on a course where trouble lurks around virtually every corner. That should suit Gialon as he seeks to rekindle the form that carried him to his emphatic victory here two years ago. He will need it, however, with a stellar cast of rivals bringing their own missions to the P2.5-million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Que, the reigning Order of Merit champion, is chasing a third victory of the season as he seeks to strengthen his bid for back-to-back OOM crowns. The three-time Asian Tour winner has already ruled at Caliraya and Summit Point, although he settled for a joint 12th-place finish in Negros. Que could point to fatigue after competing in Taiwan before returning to the Philippines, leaving him little time to practice and reacquaint himself with the Marapara layout. With a full week of rest and preparation, he looms as one of the players to watch from the opening tee shot. Arbole, meanwhile, heads to Iloilo looking to build on the momentum of his breakthrough victory at Negros. After a 14-year wait for his first professional title, the veteran finally found the formula that had eluded him for much of his career. Jhonnel Ababa also comes in with something to prove after fading late against Arbole in Negros and settling for third, extending his own title drought to two years. Young and hungry Jeffren Lumbo, who finished second to Arbole, will likewise be chasing a follow-up to his breakthrough triumph at South Pacific last year, where he outdueled Russell Bautista in a dramatic five-hole playoff. Also in the hunt are proven winners Clyde Mondilla, Tony Lascuña, Rupert Zaragosa, Guido van der Valk and Jaraula, while Bautista continues his pursuit of the elusive victory. But for Gialon, the Iloilo stop carries a more personal significance. Back on the course where he last lifted a PGT trophy, he has another chance to turn promising form into a championship – and finally break the two-year cycle that has followed his last victory. TMT

MANILA, Philippines — San Sebastian College-Recoletos turned to team captain Juna Gonzales in the closing stretch of the deciding set to complete a reverse sweep of Emilio Aguinaldo College, 16-25, 18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 15-6, in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Gonzales scored five of the Lady Stags’ 9-0 sizzler to finish off a stunned Lady Generals side for a good start in Pool C of the league’s centerpiece competition, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R&B Milk Tea.   Tied at 6 in the deciding frame, Gonzales opened SSC-R’s barrage with a thunderous kill. EAC had no answer to the Lady Stags’ assault as Gonzales continued to pound missiles capped by a hit that put SSC-R at match point. Lady Stags setter Patrixia Abulencia sealed the match with a well-timed kill block over Shamira Pantoja. Gonzales scored all of her 19 points on kills and added four digs for SSC-R.  Kleiner Abraham finished with 13 points while middle blocker Marianne Tayag got 12 markers on nine attacks and three kill blocks for the Lady Stags, whose victory in the two-hour, 25-minute encounter was aided by EAC’s 33 errors. SSC-R saved a match point in the third set and took a 25-24 lead. The Lady Generals forced a deuce but a net-touch infraction followed by a Liana Fabella kill gave the Lady Stags an opening to mount a comeback. Angel Joy Perez paced EAC with 17 points, 16 coming from spikes, while Cara Dayanan scored 15. Angelica Pasaol and Marinel Ramos added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the Lady Generals. Meanwhile, National University opened its five-peat bid with a 25-14, 25-19, 25-18 demolition of San Beda University in Pool A on Saturday evening. Arah Panique unloaded nine points while Vange Alinsug, Celine Marsh and Harlyn Serneche chipped in seven each as the Lady Bulldogs joined Arellano University on top of the pool standings in the tournament, supported by Smart, PusoP.com and Summit Natural Drinking Water, with the Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, Jersey Haven, Solar Sports and 12 Beyond Production as technical partners.   Daisy Cagas and Angel Habacon led the Lady Red Spikers with eight and seven points, respectively. Action resumes on October 9. All games are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports. TMT

MANILA, Philippines -- John Cabang Tolentino of the Philippines snared a bronze medal in the 20th Asian Games 110m men's hurdles final at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Japan Sunday evening. Cabang Tolentino clocked 13:48 to claim the last podium spot as he went 0.10 seconds faster than his heats time. Chinese Chen Yuanjiang seized the gold medal with 13.15 seconds as Japanese Rachid Muratake took the silver with 13.29.

John Cabang Tolentino delivered the first athletics medal for the Philippines, capturing the bronze in the men's 110m hurdles finals in the 2026 Asian Games on Sunday in Japan.

Junmilardo Ogayre's medal bid came to an end after he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Uzbekistan's Abdumalik Khalokov in the men's 60kg quarterfinals at the 2026 Asian Games.

NAGOYA — The Asian Games has crowned teenage champions before, but this edition has witnessed stunning successes by child prodigies, culminating in Yuki Kurihara standing atop the podium aged just 11. The Japanese primary school student demolished opponents three times his age on the way to a historic gold in eSports in Aichi-Nagoya. He is Japan's youngest Asian Games champion in history and almost certainly the youngest the Games have ever seen. Kurihara did not even react after winning Saturday's final in Puyo Puyo Champions, a puzzle game where players try to clear their screen of colored blobs by lining them up and popping them. The boy, who does not turn 12 until June and wants to be a train driver when he grows up, later explained that he felt "embarrassed." Kurihara's face was splashed across national newspapers on Sunday. There is no publicly available official list of the youngest medalists ever at the Games, which were first contested in 1951. But the introduction in recent editions of events intended to attract younger viewers has resulted in some eye-catching displays by children. In skateboarding, Taiwan's 12-year-old Ku Yong-yan took home silver on Friday in the "men's" park final. The winner, Japan's Izuru Nagahara, was a relative veteran at 15. Nagahara had anesthetic injections in his knee to dull the pain from injury before his winning run. Also in the skateboarding was Mazel Paris of the Philippines, who was just nine when she competed at the previous Asian Games. Asked what has changed since Hangzhou in 2023, the 12-year-old replied: "I got taller for sure." This week will see another teenage phenomenon enter the fray with India's 15-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Abuse concerns But the presence of young children competing on the international stage against adults and under expectations to win for their country comes with a caveat. Kanae Doi, Japan director at Human Rights Watch, said ahead of the Games that "moments of triumph do not come easily. They are built on years of disciplined training, often beginning in childhood." "At its best, that journey should provide children with the joy of play and competition, along with opportunities for physical, mental and personal growth," she wrote in the Japan Times. "Many young athletes instead encounter physical, verbal and even sexual abuse in the very environments meant to help them develop." She said that in Games host Japan, children "frequently experience abuse in sports training within Japanese schools, federations and elite sports programs." In 2024, the International Olympic Committee released its consensus statement on youth athletes at the Olympic Games. It noted that 50 percent of common mental health conditions first emerge before 18. Adolescent athletes are also more susceptible to certain injuries, it said. Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi became the youngest medalist in world championships history last year with bronze aged 12. Now a teenager and hotly tipped to make a splash at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Yu is one of the faces of the Nagoya Games with three golds, all in record times. But when it came to reporters swarming around her after races, she looked all of her 13 years. "Interviews are way harder than the race," she said. Under pressure Each sport has its own rules on minimum age. For World Aquatics, the minimum age for major international championships is 14 but exceptions can be made for younger swimmers if, like Yu, they are fast enough. Yu has spoken previously about struggling to balance her swimming with school work. Yu's team-mate Zhang Yufei, 28, a multiple Olympic gold medalist and world champion, said the youngster's stunning displays were no longer a shock. But she cautioned: "I hope she can withstand that pressure."

Former senator and chess enthusiast Manny Pacquiao took time to congratulate newly elected FIDE president Timur Turlov of Kazakhstan on Sunday.  Simultaneously, Pacquiao is pushing for the creation of a group that will usher in the new era in Philippine chess  Turlov's ascension to the top post as FIDE's eighth president has been viewed by Pacquiao as a welcome sign for change and development throughout the world, including the Philippines.  "The new FIDE leadership should bring brighter days for chess and I congratulate (FIDE) president Turlov. It's time to unite, gather around him, and support the sport," said Pacquaio, the only eight-weight division world boxing champion.  Pacquiao recently announced that he declined the vice president post handed to him on a silver platter by the NCFP, the local Philippine federation headed by long-standing president Prospero Pichay Jr.  Pacquiao, who plays chess with passion and regularity, has offered huge amounts of cash prizes for his annual international chess tournaments.  This year, Pacquiao said the NCFP received his money, hoping that the local chess body would sanction his tournament and have it FIDE rated.  The NCFP, however, allegedly tried to dictate terms and assign its own people to run the show for the Pacquiao chess tournament, bringing in arbiters from Manila instead of the available ones in the nearby regions. A stalemate ensued and the NCFP allegedly did not return the money to Pacquiao.  "I'm proposing to put the word 'united' in the new group that we are forming," said Pacquaio.  Professionals and community leaders from all regions in the country have also rallied to his call for change and unity. Noting the stagnation of chess development in the countryside, the group enumerated several areas of concern in Philippine chess Pacquiao also received numerous complaints of irregularities and has gotten support from lawyers, bank auditors and tournament organizers. "We're given one chance to make it good in this lifetime. It's time to make the right moves, like that on a chess board," said Pacquaio. Turlov was elected president of FIDE, the international chess federation at the FIDE General Assembly, alongside the ongoing 46th Chess Olympiad, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.  At 38, he is the second youngest FIDE president ever elected, succeeding Arkady Dvorkovich, who served for two terms from 2018 to 2026.

Philippine Esports team Sibol claimed a bronze medal after an 0-2 loss to  Indonesia in the semifinals of the Pokémon UNITE esports event at the Aichi Sky Expo Hall on Sunday in Japan. Kim Rey Salazar, Michael Vaughn Ocio, Lance David and head coach Albert Camp couldn’t sustain the momentum of a 2-0 sweep over Hong Kong in the quarterfinals against the Indonesians to settle for third place.  The Philippines could not sustain a good start in Game 1 to fall to Indonesia, 277-312, and suffered a beatdown in Game 2, 204-807. Nonetheless, Sibol raised the Philippine bronze haul in the Asiad to seven and 11 overall including two golds and two silvers

Bryan Bagunas shared that the Alas Pilipinas Men struggled in their loss to South Korea to open their 2026 Asian Games campaign on Sunday. But a battle outside the court also drew attention, as the veteran spiker opened up about the financial challenges faced by the national team.

The SIBOL esports team won a bronze medal in the Pokemon UNITE event, raising the Philippines' medal haul up to 11 medals in the 2026 Asian Games as of Sunday, September 27.

Tennielle Madis may have bowed out of the women"s singles competition at the 20th Asian Games, but the young Filipina is taking inspiration from Alex Eala as she prepares for her next event.

The SIBOL team bagged bronze in the Pokemon UNITE event after falling to Indonesia, 0-2, in the semifinals.

Kristel Macrohon was left just a few kilograms shy of the podium after finishing fourth in the women's 69kg weightlifting division at the 2026 Asian Games on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan.