Dwayne Wade in awe of Filipinos passion for basketball

Manila Times - Oct 14, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — It’s one thing to hear about it and another to feel it firsthand. NBA Hall-of-Famer Dwayne Wade is in awe after finally experiencing Filipinos' passion for basketball during his "TADHANA: Make Your Own Way Manila Tour". "Just coming here, just looking into people's eyes, like it's real (their love for basketball), you know, I heard it and then you have to feel it," said Wade in a media availability Tuesday. A 13-time All-Star and a 3-time champion with the Miami Heat, Wade said he felt the Filipinos passion for basketball literally everywhere including the bathroom at the airport. "I think that's the exciting and the nervousness when all of the feelings and emotions is what I feel, because everything that everyone said about the Philippines and they've said about the sport and they've said about myself," said Wade. "I see it in everyone's eyes. I feel it in the hugs. I feel it in the, when I go in the bathrooms. I went in the bathroom at the airport and everybody stopped. It was different. "But it was just really cool just to know, like, you know, what everyone has told me about this community and this culture. Like they say basketball, this...

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Eala eyes fresh start at Ningbo Open

Oct 14, 2026

Eala eyes fresh start at Ningbo Open

MANILA, Philippines -- Looking to get back on track after a string of upset losses, Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala will compete at the WTA 500 Ningbo Open in China. Running right after the 1000 Wuhan Open, Ningbo will unfold from October 19 to 25. World No. 19 Eala suffered her worst loss of the season in Wuhan, where she got booted out with a 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 loss to Chinese qualifier and No. 217 Shi Han last Monday. It was Eala's third straight loss to a player ranked significantly lower than her. The losing spell started at the Singapore Open second round where she fell to world No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, on September 24. A week later at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Eala bowed to world No. 85 Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, to settle for a bronze medal on October 1. Then came the latest shock defeat to Shi on October 12 in Wuhan where Eala once again took the first set only to crumble afterward. The 21-year-old likewise suffered a first round exit in doubles with Turkish player Zeynep Sönmez, falling to the Ukrainian tandem of Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina on October 13. Eala looks to put that all behind her in Ningbo, hoping for a fresh start and to find the winning form she displayed during her conquest of the 500 D.C. Open last August. Only the top four seeds receive a first-round bye in the 28-player field Ningbo Open. As it stands, Eala is the 11th highest rated among direct entrants. World No. 1 defending champion Elena Rybakina will be the top seed followed by No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Elina Svitolina, and No. 9 Iga Swiatek. Eala won't have a first-round bye but is expected to face another lower-ranked player to start her campaign. The lefty Eala is only listed in the singles entry of the tournament.