READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines –Alas Pilipinas women’s team finished the Asian Games in high spirits, claiming ninth place with a 25-21, 25-9, 30-28 sweep of Hong Kong on Tuesday at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium. The nationals achieved Japanese coach Taka Minowa’s goal after the

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women’s gymnastics squad qualified only for the team event medal round of the Asian Games on Tuesday at Nagoya General Gymnasium. None of the Philippine gymnasts qualified for an individual apparatus final, but the team advanced to the

Japan’s B.League tipped off its 2026-27 season on Tuesday, launching a revamped structure for professional basketball in the country. Aiming to become the world’s No. 2 basketball league behind the NBA in both revenue and quality of play, the B.League has introduced a salary cap to level the playing field while abolishing performance-based promotion and

Check the Philippines" 2026 Asian Games schedule for September 23, featuring Carlos Yulo, Levi Ruivivar, Sam Catantan, Rosegie Ramos, and more.

MANILA, Philippines — Sibol opens its gold medal quest for the Philippines in the Naraka: Bladepoint and Puyo Puyo Champions in the Asian Games 2026 esports competitions starting on Wednesday at Aichi Sky Expo. Richard Espejo, Von Teñoso, Kenneth Perez, and Joaquin Paclibar will lead the Philippines’ Naraka: Bladepoint team, with Paclibar also competing in

MANILA, Philippines—Jose Rizal University halted College of St. Benilde’s hot start in Group A of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament after hanging tough in the stretch to pull out a 73-69 victory at San Juan Arena on Tuesday. Laurence Mangubat finished with 20 points and Chris Hubilla was also big in the stretch

The Philippines has collected four medals at the 2026 Asian Games as of Tuesday, September 22, highlighted by Jean Claude Saclag"s silver medal in the men"s traditional -65kg event.

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines — Kayla Sanchez narrowly missed the podium in the Asian Games 2026 women’s 100m freestyle final on Tuesday at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Sanchez ranked third after the first lap but finished fourth in 53.65 seconds, falling short of the bronze medal

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines–Andres Aldeguer scored a late penalty to give the Philippine men’s U-23 football team a 2-1 win over Kuwait on Tuesday to end its Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 campaign on a high note at Minato Soccer Field. Aldeguer came through with the

The Philippines now has four medals at the 2026 Asian Games as of Tuesday, September 22, with Jean Claude Saclag delivering the country"s first silver medal.

MANILA, Philippines–The NCAA has rescheduled the suspended San Beda-Jose Rizal University game for Saturday, September 26, in the Season 102 men’s basketball tournament. The Red Lions-Heavy Bombers clash will tip off at 3 p.m. at Filoil Arena in San Juan, the league’s management committee announced. Saturday’s game will be the only NCAA fixture that day,

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine men’s baseball team’s bid to reach the Super Round of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games suffered a big blow after a 15-8 loss to China on Tuesday at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Baseball Stadium. Starting pitcher Amiel de Guzman was roughed up for six runs in the second inning before the Philippines’ comeback

PHOENIX — Jimmer Fredette’s return to the court was a winning one. Fredette was named MVP of the Fiba 3×3 Phoenix Challenger on Sunday night, scoring eight points in the final to lead Team Miami to a 22-16 win over Amsterdam for the title. Team Miami went 5-0 in the two-day tournament. Fredette and USA

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines — Jean Claude Saclag secured the Philippines’ first silver medal in the Asian Games 2026 despite falling to Otabek Rajabov of Tajikistan in the mixed martial arts men’s traditional -65kg final on Tuesday at Nagoya City Inae Sports Center. Saclag struck

LOS ANGELES — Versatile forward Nicolas Batum is retiring following an 18-year NBA career and a long stint with the French national team. The 37-year-old Batum announced his retirement in a social media video with his son on Monday. “I decided to retire from basketball for several reasons,” Batum told 10-year-old son, Ayden, in the

THE Philippine women's kata team claimed a bronze medal in the 20th Asian Games after defeating Thailand 4-1 in the battle for third at the Toyohashi Gymnasium in Japan Tuesday morning. Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas, Ysabielle Arrogante, and Rebecca Cyril Torres posted scores of 7.8, 7.7, 7.9, 8.7, and 8.1, against Thailand’s 7.6, 7.5, 7.7, 8.5, and 8.3 to seize the last podium spot. The Filipina trio thus handed the Philippines its first-ever medal in the team kata event in the continental meet. "We didn't care which team we're going to face. We just claimed that we will come home with a bronze medal," said Arrogante. The Filipinas started strong with a 5-0 sweep of Cambodia’s Sreynuch Puthea, Oun Sreyda and That Chhenghorng, but went down with a 0-5 loss to powerhouse Iran in the semifinals before bouncing back in the battle for third. “It has been a long journey," said Torres. "We struggled and lost multiple times over the years but we just kept on performing until the end." The Sonny Montalvo-coached Filipina trio gave the Philippines its third medal in the Games following the bronzes won by the women's soft tennis team and mixed martial artist Carlos Alvarez. The Kayla Sanchez-led Philippine swimming team was also gunning for podium finishes Tuesday night. Sanchez and Heather White were set to compete in the women's 100m freestyle final, while Xiandi Chua and Gian Santos were to battle in the women's 200m backstroke and men's 400m individual medley medal rounds, respectively. While the Philippines has struggled early in finding its gold especially after Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas, one of the country's favorites to make a podium finish, did a quick exit in the women's boxing 51kg, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino remains hopeful that the country's delegation can meet his 8-gold prediction. “There’s no backing down from this. Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with dreaming. It doesn’t cost us anything, it’s free,” said Tolentino, emphasizing that the tournament is just getting started. “That’s more than 10 [potential gold medals]. So we haven’t lost hope yet. Definitely, we will have gold medals."

FILIPINO Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas made a quick exit in the 20th Asian Games after suffering a unanimous decision (0-5) loss to Indian Sakshi Chaudhary in the women’s 51kg round of 32 at the Nishio Gymnasium in Japan Tuesday. Villegas, who served as a co-flag bearer during the meet’s opening ceremony, couldn’t get going as Chaudhary dominated. Villegas’ loss dealt a huge blow to the Philippine campaign as she was one of the favorites to make a podium finish in the continental meet. Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas Men’s 3x3 Team tries to keep the Philippine basketball campaign alive when they face Kazakhstan on Wednesday in Nagoya. Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 is coming off a 2-0 start after beating Asian no. 1 Mongolia, 19-12, and Sri Lanka, 21-12, on the opening day of competition at Kinjo Futo Station Square as it heads into the crucial Pool A match. A win over Kazakhstan at 12:15 p.m. would give the Philippines a sweep of the elimination round and an outright ticket to the quarterfinals, bringing the young squad one step closer to a medal.  Kazakhstan lost to Mongolia after beating Sri Lanka in the first two games of the tournament to end up with a 1-1 record. Nic Cabañero of the Binan Tatak Gel team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, has been the main man in Gilas’ hot start, scoring seven points against Mongolia before adding another eight against Sri Lanka. Timely scoring from Santo Tomas’ Koji Buenaflor and Luis Pablo of La Salle has also helped, but the Filipinos’ defensive pressure has enabled them to dictate the tempo in both games. Cabañero, Buenaflor, Pablo and Doy Dungo, also of La Salle, arrived in Nagoya after just about a month of preparation but their familiarity from the UAAP and other competitions has helped them quickly develop chemistry.  The Philippines also comes into Wednesday’s game on the back of a rise to No. 27 in the world men’s 3x3 rankings, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said. But the Filipinos are not assuming anything. “Here in 3x3, anybody can beat anyone, so we consider everyone a threat,” Pablo said.

OVER a week after the PBA-backed Philippine team failed in its bid to retain the country’s basketball title in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Gilas coach Tim Cone expects a “full review” of the team’s performance. The Manila Times asked the American mentor when the post-Asian Games evaluation be, but he gave no time nor date. “Not yet, but there will be a full review,” Cone said in a short response. Cone’s Gilas-Asiad squad didn’t have regular national players led by Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, along with young big man Kai Sotto in Japan. Ramos and Co. are not given the green light to play by their respective clubs from Japan and South Korea since the Asian Games is not sanctioned by FIBA. Their unavailability left Cone with no choice but to form a separate Gilas team dedicated to play in the Asian Games in Japan. Sans naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who continues to recover from multiple injuries to his knee, hamstring and leg, Gilas got whitewashed twice by the Korean national team during their two-game invitational in Suwon, a week before the start of the Asian Games. The Philippines then opened the Asian Games with an 85-89 shocking loss to Bahrain, which was reinforced by four naturalized players. Gilas managed to redeem itself by smashing, 109-78, but disaster struck when the national squad suffered a 105-61 shellacking at the hands of China that dealt the death blow to the country’s title-retention hopes. South Korea went on to beat host Japan for the gold last Sunday, 67-57, while Iran subdued China, 79-70 to grab the bronze in the Asiad.

TOKYO — The 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi has taken the Asian Games by storm, but when it comes to the intense interest in her, she said: “Interviews are way harder than the race.” Yu smashed the Games record in winning the women’s 200m butterfly on Sunday in Tokyo and then repeated the feat in Monday’s 200m individual medley. The schoolgirl’s 2min 06.10sec in scorching to victory in the medley was the fastest time in the world this year. She was only 0.40sec off the world record held by Canada’s Summer McIntosh. Yu has been the talk of swimming since becoming the youngest medallist in world championships history last year with bronze for China’s relay team aged just 12. She is shaping up to be a major medal threat at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. But out of the pool she openly admits to struggling with what to say in front of large numbers of Chinese and international reporters eager to hear from her. Yu, who turns 14 next month, has tried to shy away from speaking to journalists following her latest eye-popping triumphs. When eventually coaxed into giving some remarks, she has done so hesitantly. “How do I answer this question? Can you teach me? You just want me to say what I feel?” she said to reporters in Chinese this week. “I don’t feel anything in particular. I run through the technical details the coach told me once in my head. “In the last 50 meters you can’t save energy, you have to give it everything, not think about anything, close your eyes and hang on, that’s it.” Under World Aquatics rules, the minimum age for major international championships is 14 but exceptions can be made for younger swimmers if, like Yu, they are fast enough. Some in the swimming world have questioned the mental and physical impact of high-level training and competing at such a young age. Yu has admitted to struggling to balance her school work with her status as the brightest young talent in swimming. As well as international news headlines, her two golds so far this week at the Asian Games have caused a sensation back home. Her back story, such as being spotted by chance by a swimming coach at a water park, and her struggle with interviews, have gone viral. Asked if answering questions was the hardest part, she replied with a giggle: “Every time I just want to float off somewhere else.” First doping case Thai women’s badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh became the first known doping case at the Asian Games in Japan on Monday, testers said. The 19-year-old returned a positive sample for the banned substance furosemide and has been provisionally suspended, the International Testing Agency said. The teenager, who is ranked 18th in the world and regarded as a rising star back home, had been due to face China on Tuesday in the team event. The first full day of badminton action at Asia’s biggest sporting spectacular was on Sunday. “The athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching or participating in any activity during the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026,” the ITA said. The agency noted that Pitchamon can challenge the provisional suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample,” it added. Furosemide can be used by competitors to excrete water for rapid weight loss. The sample was collected by the ITA during out-of-competition testing on Sept. 17.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams bounced back from their season-opening flop in Australia to score a stylish 28-6 victory over the New York Giants on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford returned to form with 327 passing yards and four touchdowns for Los Angeles as the Giants never recovered after suffering an early injury to signal-caller Jaxson Dart. The Rams had been trounced 27-7 by San Francisco in Melbourne last week, when the team’s decision to travel to Australia on the eve of the game backfired. But the team hyped before the season as potential Super Bowl contenders looked vastly more convincing with a dominant victory back on home turf at the SoFi Stadium. Reigning L Most Valuable Player Stafford made 22-of-31 passes and linked brilliantly with wide receiver Davante Adams, who scored two touchdowns with 195 receiving yards from eight receptions. “He’s a fantastic football player and we’re lucky to have him,” Stafford said of Adams afterwards. “He delivered for us big time, which is awesome.” Stafford though felt the Rams could have been more clinical. “Obviously we executed at a higher clip and made some explosive plays, but to be honest with you I felt we could have been more efficient,” he said. “We had some plays left out there that we know we can make.” Giants quarterback Dart meanwhile left the game after a brutal double tackle from Rams defenders Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart on the visitors’ opening drive. Replays of the incident showed Dart’s left leg buckle awkwardly at the knee, and the the quarterback hobbled off before being taken to the locker room with what was later reported to be sprained knee ligaments. With Dart out of the picture, the Giants’ offense struggled to generate any kind of momentum with back-up quarterback Jameis Winston coming on for Dart. The Rams, who welcomed back star defender Aaron Donald in the veteran’s first game since coming out of retirement, were quickly into their stride. Stafford found veteran receiver Adams with a bullet 31-yard pass over the top for the opening touchdown in the first quarter. Another smooth Rams drive took the home side into a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, with Stafford picking out running back Kyren Williams in the end zone for a touchdown. The Giants got their first points on the board with a 52-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada just before half-time. But the Rams hit back with a second Adams touchdown early in the third quarter while the Giants could only add a second Zvada field goal. The Rams fourth touchdown made it 28-6 when Stafford picked out tight end Terrance Ferguson at the back of the end zone.

LOS ANGELES — Versatile forward Nicolas Batum is retiring following an 18-year NBA career and a long stint with the French national team. The 37-year-old Batum announced his retirement in a social media video with his son on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). “I decided to retire from basketball for several reasons,” Batum told 10-year-old son, Ayden, in the video. “I want to come home and be with you. I’m going to take care of you and make room for others. I think I’ve done my time. My time with France ended two years ago. And the NBA is over too. You know, when you’ve played as much basketball as I have, at some point, you have to know when to stop. ... I’ve done everything I needed to do.” Batum played two seasons in the French league before being selected in the first round of the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. The 6-foot-7 forward spent seven seasons in Portland before playing the next six with Charlotte. Batum spent most of his final six seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, with a short stint in Philadelphia in 2023-24. He also was a stalwart on French national teams that won silver medals in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. Batum averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 37% from 3-point range during his NBA career.

PARIS, France — FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) suggested a “consultation” with the member federations to reform the world football governing body’s decision-making processes, in a letter addressed to the 211 member associations, and seen by AFP. “I will propose that the Council establish a direct, structured and time-limited consultation with confederations, Member Associations and relevant stakeholders on how FIFA’s decision-making can be further strengthened,” Infantino wrote. The 56-year-old Swiss has come under fire since his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the men’s and women’s World Cups. “The consultation would invite specific proposals on earlier institutional involvement, the respective roles of the President, the Bureau, the Council and the Congress, and practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives,” the letter continued. Infantino asked for the initial proposals to be considered at the council meeting scheduled for Oct. 15. Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA in 2016. He has come under severe pressure since the announcement in late July of proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. The plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative. The backlash that followed led to the proposals being quickly shelved. European football’s governing body UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions. It later suspended that threat, but has urged Infantino to resign and has been preparing possible legal action against him for alleged “criminal mismanagement”. Infantino addressed FFE in his letter on Monday and wrote that “FIFA’s democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale”. The plan also “did not involve relinquishing FIFA’s control or authority over sporting decisions”, he insisted. He further lamented the fact that the scheme “entered the public domain before FIFA’s planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the Member Associations”. “I recognize that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not,” Infantino added. “Major ideas must be developed, tested and communicated through clear and trusted institutions. That is a responsibility I take seriously.” UEFA, alongside North American body Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, issued a no-holds-barred joint letter against Infantino in August.

SINGAPORE–In another last-minute shakeup at the Singapore Open, American World No. 11 Amanda Anisimova became the latest star to pull out of the WTA 500 event. The second-seeded Anisimova withdrew on Tuesday due to a left wrist injury. Her withdrawal came just two days after Indonesian ace Janice Tjen dropped out because of a right

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 NAGOYA–An Afghan cyclist who disguised herself as a man to pursue her sporting dreams won an Asian Games silver medal on Tuesday, hoping it inspires other women in a country where Taliban authorities have sharply curtailed their freedoms. Italy-based Fariba Hashimi powered home

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines–Quarterfinal-bound Gilas Pilipinas fell to fancied host Japan, 89-67, on Tuesday to place second in Group B of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 women’s 5-on-5 basketball competition. Gilas hardly had a response to Japan’s early onslaught before winding up absorbing its first

Juliana Gomez, the daughter of celebrity couple and Leyte Representative Richard Gomez and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, saw her women"s epee campaign at the 2026 Asian Games come to an end in the Table of 16 on Tuesday in Japan.

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines–Kacey dela Rosa powered Gilas Pilipinas to twin victories over favorite Mongolia and lowly Macau on Tuesday to start its medal bid on a bright note in the women’s 3×3 U-23 basketball competition of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Dela Rosa scored

Madonna, Bob Dylan and Jack White have banned phones from their concerts. An exasperated Adele once asked an audience member: “Can you stop filming me? … You can enjoy it in real life rather than through your camera.” In the sporting sphere, however, those bastions of decorum at Augusta National Golf Club are alone in waging war on mobile devices, employing a strict cell phone ban for patrons attending the US Masters. Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 Open Championship winner and veteran of 18...

SINGAPORE–A laser-focused Alex Eala held nothing back in practice on Tuesday ahead of her highly anticipated main draw debut at the Singapore Open. Eala was all business even in training with hitting partner Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich under the guidance of her Spanish assistant coach Sandro Viaene at practice court 2 inside the Kallang sports complex

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon Huskers subdued the Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers, 90-74, to top the elimination phase of the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season South Division at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos. Quezon improved its record to  21-4, the same as Binan Tatak Gel, but emerged as the No. 1 qualifier to the quarterfinal playoffs because of its 66-59 victory in their April 21 encounter. Although the Huskers led throughout, the reigning back-to-back South champions experienced anxious moments as the Golden Coolers crept to within 55-58 after three quarters. Cholo Anonuevo, however, hit his stride in the fourth quarter with 8 points and Christian Pagaran added 6, pushing the Huskers out of danger and pulling down the Golden Coolers to 16-9. MPBL All-Star co-MVP Judel Fuentes led Quezon with 14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals; followed by Jason Opiso, with 14 points and 6 rebounds; Anonuevo, with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists; and Pagaran, with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Rizal, which remained the No. 6 qualifier, drew 20 points and 8 rebounds from JP Maguliano; 12 points and 5 assists from Philip Manalang; and 10 points and 5 assists from Jolo Mendoza. Gensan trounces Bulacan The Gensan Warriors started hot and never cooled to beat the Bulacan Kuyas, 102-82, in the nightcap and catch up with the Cebu Greats and the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics at 19-6. After the tiebreaker, Cebu finished third, and Batangas City fourth, owing to its 76-73 victory over Gensan on Sept. 18. RJ Minerva paced Gensan with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, followed by Hesed Gabo, with 14 points, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds; and Kris Porter with 10 points. Joshua Fontanilla, Samboy De Leon and JM Versoza supported them with 9 points each. Bulacan, which ended its campaign at 6-19, got 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals from Andre Acop; 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals from Jeremy Cruz; and 11 points and 2 assists from Benedict Benedictos. Imus grabs last play-in ticket The Imus Yangkee bested the Sarangani 10ACT Marlins, 89-84, in the opener to grab the last ticket to the play-in stage. Imus finished at 4-21, good for the 10th spot in the South Division, and will tangle with ninth-ranked Zamboanga Sikat in the play-in involving teams ranked seventh to 10th after the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament. The winner between Imus and Zamboanga will then dispute the eighth and last playoff slot with the loser of the other play-in game between seventh-ranked Mindoro and No. 8 Basilan. The winner of the Mindoro-Zamboanga tussle advances outright to the quarterfinal playoffs. Sarangani closed its campaign this year with a 3-22 record. Joseph Marquez, a 6-foot-3 forward out of Our Lady of Fatima University, posted 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for Imus and was named the SportsPlus best player. Other Yangkees who delivered were Ian Pardo, with 16 points, including three game-clinching free throws in the last 8.7 seconds; homegrown Paul Christian Ferrer, with 13 points and 8 rebounds; and homegrown Patrick Dale Beltran, with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Sarangani drew 21 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists from Carl Bryan Lacap; 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists from John Cantimbuhan; 10 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals from Alex Desoyo; and 8 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists from Ken Brillantes. The tournament returns to the Pasay Astrodome on Tuesday, featuring games between Caloocan and Zamboanga at 3 p.m., Pasay City and Pasig City at 5 p.m., and Valenzuela City and Quezon City at 7 p.m. TMT