French forward Nicolas Batum retiring after 18-year NBA career

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

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

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines–Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena will defend his Asian Games title and pursue another record as he leads the Philippines’ 24-member athletics team in Aichi-Nagoya. Obiena enters the competition as the defending men’s pole vault champion after clearing an Asian Games-record

MANILA, Philippines — Aguilas UMAK FC has taken another major step to its long-term project with South Korean head coach Jang Min Seok assuming the chairmanship of the club as well. Jang, an AFC Pro License holder, came to the Philippines with a clear ambition: build Aguilas UMAK FC into a competitive and sustainable professional football club capable of challenging for the Philippines Football League title and eventually competing on the AFC stage. His role will now extend beyond coaching the first team. As chairman and head coach, Jang will take part in shaping the club’s overall football direction, including player development, youth programs, club infrastructure, international partnerships and the long-term professionalization of Aguilas UMAK FC. “I did not come to the Philippines simply to coach a team. I came here to build something that can last,” said said. “Our goal is to win, but winning alone is not enough. I want to help build a strong club, develop young Filipino players and create opportunities for them to compete internationally.” Jang believes that combining Korean football experience with the potential of Filipino players can help Aguilas UMAK FC establish a stronger identity both domestically and internationally. “Aguilas UMAK FC is not just a team for one season. We are building for the future,” he said. “My dream is to make this club a champion and take Aguilas UMAK FC onto the Asian stage.” With Jang now serving as both chairman and head coach, Aguilas UMAK FC is signaling its intention to pursue not only immediate results on the pitch, but also a long-term vision for the club’s growth. He attended Hongik University and was highly regarded as a top prospect in the class of 1995, known for his movement on the pitch and clinical finishing. This led to him being selected as the first overall pick in the 1999 K-League draft by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC. Throughout his playing career, he also represented the South Korean national team at both the youth and senior men's levels. Following his playing career, he transitioned into coaching and has since earned an AFC/KFA P-License. TMT

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas blanked Hong Kong, 25-21, 25-9, 30-28, to finish ninth in the 20th Asian Games women's volleyball at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Japan on Tuesday. Bella Belen poured 18 points including an off-the-block push and a kill for the Philippines, which totaled three wins in classification after defeating Qatar and Mongolia. Alas' quarterfinal bid ended after losses to China and Kazakhstan in Pool B.

BEIJING–Zheng Qinwen returns to the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since 2024 looking to inspire host China to an upset over two-time defending champions Italy this week in Shenzhen. Fresh off an impressive run at the US Open, where she reached the last eight as a qualifier, Zheng will lead the Chinese

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines — Olympic boxer Aira Villegas ended her Asian Games 2026 campaign in the first round, losing to India’s Sakshi by unanimous decision in the women’s 51kg boxing on Tuesday at Nishio Gymnasium. Villegas couldn’t stop the Indian’s aggression over three rounds,

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine national karate squad delivered the country’s third medal in the Asian Games 2026 after beating Thailand, 4-1, in the bronze medal match of the women’s kata team event on Tuesday at Toyohashi Gymnasium. Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas, Ysabielle Arrogante

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines advanced to the 20th Asian Games women's artistic gymnastics team all-around final at the Nagoya General Gymnasium Rainbow Hall in Japan on Tuesday. Haylee Garcia, Lauren Supnet, Kylee Kvamme, Chiara Andrew, and Paris Olympian Levi Ruivivar combined for 144.563 points in the 9-team preliminaries, where the top eight entered the medal round. The women's and men's team final which also features the Carlos Yulo-led national team, is set for Wednesday. Unfortunately, no Philippine bet made it to the individual apparatus medal rounds, where only the top eight gymnasts with a limit of two per country entered the final. Placing 12th in uneven bars, Ruivivar managed to be the top reserve with 13.166 points. She will serve as a replacement if a qualifier cannot compete due to an injury or other reason.

MANILA, Philippines — T-Mc Ongotan led the charge as Arellano University nipped Emilio Aguinaldo College, 91-87, in the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena on Tuesday. Ongotan fired 26 points including the basket that gave the Chiefs a 90-87 cushion against the Generals in the last 12 seconds. After a Wilmer Oftana missed trey, Ernest Geronimo split his charities to secure the win for Arellano with two seconds left. Ongotan added five rebounds and three assists for Arellano which rose to 2-0 for a share of Group B lead with Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Jude Bagay turned in 16 points and eight rebounds to pace EAC which fell to 0-2.

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament Arellano def. EAC (91-87) T-Mc Ongotan Player of the Game #NCAASeason102