Tachiana Mangin takes silver in Asian Games taekwondo

Oct 2, 2026

UAAP: Cabs Cabonilas proves vital for FEU as rookie season rolls on

Oct 2, 2026

Kaila Napolis scores Asian Games bronze in jiu-jitsu

Oct 2, 2026

Asian Games 2026: Alas Pilipinas Men beat Uzbekistan in classification match

Oct 2, 2026

Napolis wins jiu jitsu bronze in Asian Games

Oct 2, 2026

Blu Girls gun for Asian Games bronze vs Chinese Taipei

The Philippine women’s softball team closed the preliminary round with a 9-3 victory over Hong Kong on Friday and will vie for the bronze medal against Chinese Taipei on Saturday in the 20th Asian Games at the Anjo Softball Ground in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls will have a chance to redeem themselves from a 1-10 preliminary round setback against Chinese Taipei on Sept. 27 and give the Philippines its first ever medal in Asian Games softball. The Philippines finished fourth in each of the previous three editions of the Asian Games. The women's softball gold medal will be disputed by Japan and China. Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asa-Phil) president Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the Blu Girls for keeping their medal dreams alive and continuing to fight after the setback against China on Thursday. “This is the opportunity we have been working and fighting for,” said Lhuillier, who is also president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. “The Blu Girls have shown tremendous resilience throughout this tournament, and now they have the chance to make history for Philippine softball. The Philippines lost the bronze medal match against Chinese Taipei in the previous edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. “We know Chinese Taipei will be a tough opponent, but I believe in this team's heart, preparation, and determination. We are behind them all the way as they give everything they have for that historic medal and for the country,” Lhuillier added. Against Hong Kong, the Philippines was led by Ma. Angelu Gabriel who finished with three hits, an RBI and two runs in four at-bats. Roma Jane Cruz added two hits and a team-high three RBIs while Reyae Mae Villamin drove in two runs for the Blu Girls. Royevel Palma pitched six scoreless innings for the Philippines, limiting Hong Kong to four hits while striking out three without issuing a walk. The Philippines finished the classification round in fourth place with a 4-3 win-loss record.

Oct 2, 2026

Blazing finish lifts Ababa past Lumbo in ICTSI Iloilo thriller

MANILA, Philippines – Refusing to buckle under pressure, Jhonnel Ababa staged a dramatic late-round comeback, birdieing the final two holes to edge Jeffren Lumbo by one and capture the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge title with a scintillating 63 at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club on Friday. The seasoned campaigner and former Order of Merit champion unleashed a furious closing charge, pulling level with Lumbo on the 17th before sinking another clutch birdie on the 72nd hole. The electric finish ignited roaring cheers from the large crowd gathered around the 18th green. Ababa’s closing surge capped a remarkable stretch-run battle after Lumbo, who finished with a 67, had appeared firmly in control entering the final round. The 30-year-old had opened a three-shot cushion over Ababa and Francis Morilla following a near-flawless third-round showing Thursday, putting himself in prime position to claim his second career victory. But Ababa refused to let the gap dictate the outcome. Under sweltering conditions, the multi-title campaigner steadily chipped away at Lumbo’s advantage while a host of contenders, including Morilla, Reymon Jaraula, Clyde Mondilla, Ira Alido and Rupert Zaragosa, also tried to stay within striking distance. With the field gradually running out of holes, Ababa made his move. A stirring birdie-birdie-eagle surge from No. 12 brought him level with Lumbo at 13-under with four holes remaining, setting up a tense, nerve-wracking duel between two determined contenders. Lumbo answered with a clutch birdie on No. 15 to regain the outright lead and appeared to have stemmed Ababa’s charge. But the veteran refused to blink. Ababa stayed composed down the stretch, then delivered the decisive blow on No. 17, sinking another birdie to draw level once more and set up a winner-take-all finish on the 18th. With the title hanging in the balance, Ababa delivered one final clutch shot, setting himself up with a four-foot birdie putt after Lumbo’s approach finished some three pins away. When Lumbo agonizingly missed his birdie attempt, the door was wide open for Ababa. He took his time, carefully reading the break and judging the distance, while keeping his composure and resolve firmly intact. Then, with confidence, Ababa stroked the putt. The ball rolled true and disappeared into the hole, completing a stunning comeback and securing a one-stroke victory over Lumbo on a closing seven-under card and a 14-under 266 total worth P440,000. Lumbo closed with a three-under card to settle for his third runner-up finish of the year at 267 and pocketed P287,500, while Jaraula fired a 66 to snatch third place at 270 after one of the fiercest four-day duels in Philippine Golf Tour history. It was Ababa’s 14th PGT victory. Ever humble and magnanimous in victory, Ababa attributed the unlikely triumph to Divine providence. He admitted he never expected to win, especially after finding himself trailing Lumbo by a wide margin. “Talagang ipinagkaloob lang ng Diyos kaya nanalo ako. Hindi ko naman akalaing mananalo ako dito kasi malaki ang lamang ni Jeffren. Kaya talagang ipinagkaloob Niya ito,” said Ababa, who dedicated the victory to his family, including his late wife, Mailyn, and their sons, John Michael and Samuel. But despite being two shots down with seven holes to play, Ababa knew the match was far from over. Rather than dwell on the deficit, he focused on executing the basics and giving himself a chance. “Hindi naman ako na-pressure. Sabi ko lang, kailangan fairway at green lang, tapos baka makatsamba. Sa No. 17, maganda ang linya,” he said. With a playoff as his immediate goal, Ababa stayed patient and waited for an opening. That chance came when Lumbo missed his putt and Ababa calmly sank his own to force a tie at 13-under overall. “Playoff lang talaga ang habol ko at baka may chance. Pero na-miss niya ‘yung putt niya at naka-one putt ako,” he said. No sudden death ensued as Ababa seized the opportunity with a clutch approach. His solid drive on the 18th left him just 50 yards from the pin. He pulled out his trusted 60-degree wedge and stuffed it to within four feet, setting himself up for the winning putt. Mondilla carded a 67 to tie Morilla, who shot a 69, for fourth at 272, while Zaragosa posted a second straight 68 to finish sixth at 273. Negros Occidental leg winner Art Arbole rallied with a 68 to tie Alido, who matched par with a 70, and Japan’s Miki Ryoma, who slipped with a 71, for seventh at 275. The victory underscored Ababa’s experience and composure under pressure, as he transformed a three-shot deficit into a dramatic closing triumph with a fiery four-under card over three holes and back-to-back birdies when it mattered most. It was also a major redemption for him after his third-place finish in Negros Occidental last year, where he slugged it out with Arbole through the first three rounds before fading on the final day, enabling Lumbo to seize runner-up honors. For the rising Sarangani star, who also finished second at Pinewoods, the defeat came after he had controlled much of the tournament and appeared poised to add another title to his young professional career. Instead, it was Ababa who owned the final stretch – turning the 17th and 18th into the decisive holes and walking away with the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge crown. TMT

Oct 2, 2026

20th Asian Games medal tally

Oct 2, 2026

Lumbo’s late birdie blitz for 62 steals show at ICTSI Iloilo

MANILA, Philippines – After a chaotic battle for control – and a fierce test of will and character under ever-changing weather conditions – an emerging star from Sarangani stood tall. Yet a band of proven winners remains in hot pursuit as the third round of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge delivered as promised: a wild, wild chase. The day began under a steady early morning rain that dampened the fairways of the Iloilo Golf and Country Club, forcing players to adjust their touch and strategy. As the morning progressed, a brief spell of bright sunshine peeked through, bringing a sudden wave of humidity that compounded the field's physical strain before dark, overcast skies rolled back in to wrap the course in a gloomy, unpredictable backdrop. The lead kept changing hands the moment the last drive on the first tee was struck. Four players quickly caught halfway solo leader Miki Ryoma at the helm. The race – not yet for the trophy, but for the lead – became an all-out free-for-all until Jeffren Lumbo took firm control late in the round behind what he termed a "solid" iron game. "My irons just really clicked. It was solid," said the 30-year-old Lumbo in Filipino, profusely praising his near-impeccable iron game that set up nine birdies within average pin-length distances. "I struggled during the first two days, but everything worked for me today." Lumbo’s masterful display led to an eight-under 62 and a 10-under 200 aggregate, seizing a comfortable three-stroke cushion over Jhonnel Ababa and Francis Morilla, who both could not match Lumbo’s blistering finish. Ababa surged early into a joint lead, dropped off the leaderboard midway through, but fought his way back into contention with late birdies for a second straight 68 and a 203 total. He was matched by longshot Morilla, who birdied three of the first seven holes before surviving a roller-coaster finish of three birdies and two bogeys for a 66. The performance put Morilla in title contention for the first time in 12 years on the Philippine Golf Tour. "My recovery shots were good," said Morilla, who drilled in six birdies inside eight feet to negate a pair of bogey miscues on a day when the cooling, overcast skies provided a brief respite from the sweltering heat that had plagued the field over the first two days. Three strokes back and set to play in the final group for the first time, Morilla remained brimming with confidence. "With how I'm driving and putting right now, I think I have a real chance. I just hope the putting stays hot," said Morilla, 32, who narrowly missed grabbing solo second after a bogey on the final hole. Despite the crowded leaderboard throughout the day, it was Lumbo who dominated the back nine. Becoming increasingly aggressive down the stretch, he birdied five of the last six holes on the exacting backside of Iloilo Golf and Country Club, reducing the challenging layout into his personal playground. What started under dark skies as a day-long brawl saw Ababa, Rupert Zaragosa and Reymon Jaraula join Ryoma in the lead after just four holes. The top spot became a revolving door, with new names surging to the top with practically every hole holed out. It became the norm rather than the exception as contenders pounded and jostled just to stay on top or stay within striking distance. Lumbo, playing in the fourth-to-last group, fueled his massive surge with a six-foot birdie putt on No. 11. What followed was a pure showcase of pinpoint iron shots and clutch putting. The 30-year-old rattled off three consecutive birdies starting at No. 13, rebounded from a missed birdie putt on No. 16, and closed his round in style with back-to-back birdies on No. 17 and 18. "The course condition is great today, but my irons were even better," said Lumbo, who made his breakthrough last year in a dramatic five-hole playoff against Russell Bautista at South Pacific. "My driving was steady, which is crucial to scoring on this course." Prior to this surge, it was his runner-up finish to Art Arbole in Negros Occidental last week that hinted at his impending ascent to a second career victory. "My driving and putting both improved, but especially my irons," added Lumbo. "Everything was so good, that’s why I managed to score an 8-under today." Lumbo’s 62, however, didn't make the course record books because play was conducted under preferred lies. Reymon Jaraula carded a third consecutive 68 to share fourth place at 204 alongside Ryoma, who flashed resilience throughout his round, bouncing back from every stumble. He went one-under through 10 holes, working his way back into contention after briefly losing the lead before the turn. But after recovering from a bogey on No. 13 with a birdie on the next, he dropped another stroke on No. 15 before parring out for a scrambling 70. Despite slipping from the top spot into a tie for fourth, the Japanese golfer remained confident in his chances of securing his breakthrough PGT victory. Meanwhile, Rupert Zaragosa also shot a 68, while Clyde Mondilla and Ira Alido matched 69s for joint sixth at 205. With so many contenders in striking distance, the race for the ₱440,000 top purse promises a tight finish down to the final shot, even as Lumbo surged late to build a three-stroke cushion. TMT

Oct 2, 2026

Paalam settles for silver in Asian Games boxing

(Updated) MANILA, Philippines — Carlo Paalam, the last man standing in Philippine boxing here, bowed to Japan’s rising star Rui Yamaguchi via split decision in the men’s 55kg final at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday afternoon at the Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan. Paalam was close to ending the nation’s 16-year-gold medal drought in Asian Games boxing but the Japanese was very tactical in his movements, outplaying the Filipino in the first two rounds. Paalam tried to bring the heat in the third and final round but the Japanese survived the Filipino's onslaught. The last time the Philippines won the gold medal in the boxing event was in 2010, when Rey Saludar topped the men’s 52 kilogram (kg) division in Guangzhou, China. The first round was rather uneventful as the two pugilists studied each other's moves but in the last five seconds, Paalam charged Yamaguchi to the corner. However, it was not enough as the Filipino only had one judge to score in his favor. In the second round, Paalam knew he needed to up his efforts and landed a clean hook at the 1:43 mark, but Yamaguchi was very precise in his movements and jabs that allowed him to earn the nods of the three judges. With the Japanese ahead after two rounds, Paalam needed a knockout to win the match. The 28-year-old Filipino Olympian took on the offensive stance but Yamaguchi moved around the ring that prevented Paalam to land solid blows. Paalam won the third round with all the judges scoring him 10 across the board but was not enough to steal the gold. Yamaguchi won, 28-29, 27-30, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist was visibly frustrated after the bout. "I'm so good, but the referee again. I don't know, not a good decision. I don’t know about the decision of the referee; he was paying attention so much to me,” Paalam told the media in Filipino via the Philippine Olympic Committee right after stepping out of the ring. “If the momentum is on my side, he stops me. The referee looks like has a magnifying glass on me,” he added. Paalam also explained the frenzy on the third round, knowing that his only chance to win was a knockout. “I was doing my very best. I was giving my all, because I knew that there was no chance anymore. I was pushing it,” he said. “Everything was there- my improvement. Again, we don’t hold the decision, even though you want to win; if the judges won’t score in your favor, there’s no point.” National team coach Ronald Chavez echoed his fighter’s sentiments, noting that the Filipino corner sensed an uphill battle from the opening bell and instructed Paalam to hunt for a knockout. “We weren’t really robbed in the fight, but that’s where we truly got the short end of the stick—from the referee and the judges. It felt like the referee had it in for us,” Coach Chavez explained. “In the first round, I even thought we were still ahead… That’s why I told him, ‘This is already looking iffy. This is what we have to do—we have no choice. If you don’t knock him out, nothing else we do will matter.’ You saw it yourself: every time Carlo landed a clean shot, the referee seemed to stop the action or start questioning something. It should have been the blue corner getting scrutinized, but it was always Carlo who was being targeted,” the longtime boxing coach added. Despite the heartbreak of another narrow finals loss, Paalam vowed to take a brief rest before getting right back to work—while leaving the door open for a potential redemption run at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “It’s not a good feeling, but it’s okay. We’ll just move forward,” Paalam said. “I’ll still give my best, keep training, and rest for a while first.”