UST holds off UE, claims second straight win

Sibol Mobile Legends: Bang Bang"s Asian Games medal hopes came crashing down in the quarterfinals as Indonesia pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset to send the Philippines out of the medal race on Wednesday in Japan.

A potential all-Filipino semifinals showdown has been denied after two Philippine pairs met contrasting results in the 2026 Asian Games women's beach volleyball quarterfinals on Wednesday in Japan.

The NBA is down to three finalists for ownership of its Las Vegas expansion team, ESPN reported Tuesday.

EJ Obiena remained Asia"s pole vault king after successfully defending his men"s pole vault title at the 20th Asian Games, winning another gold medal for the Philippines on a rain-soaked night.

The University of the East officially appointed Paulo Hubalde as the acting coach of the Red Warriors, replacing Chris Gavina, who handled the team from UAAP Season 88 until the first two games of Season 89.

Follow along with Team Philippines' campaign in the 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Bronny James is looking forward to playing against his dad, LeBron James, on Christmas Day, but until then, he will focus on improving his game and emerging from his legendary father's shadow.

Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith was arrested on a charge of family violence in Texas on Monday, according to multiple reports.

After Tuesday"s medal rush, highlighted by EJ Obiena"s gold in pole vault, the Philippines will continue its campaign in the 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday.

The reigning NBA champion New York Knicks have not decided whether to visit the White House and President Donald Trump this season, according to coach Mike Brown on Tuesday.

MANILA, Philippines — When two winners meet, it always ends up beautifully and results in a second to none situation. Asian pole vault king Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and longtime adviser James Michael Lafferty have been together through thick and thin over the past decade; and prior to Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games men’s pole vault competition the two had their own playful competition challenging one another. A mere two days before EJ’s title-retention drive in Asian Games, Lafferty would be competing also in the Raw Powerlifting World Championships 2026 men’s 60-64 age group division in Ashland, Virginia, USA with a promise that Obiena needed to match. “I am so really happy for EJ for retaining the gold in the Asian Games plus resetting a new Asiad record. And I knew, I believed that he could do it of course, so we made a deal. If I won the gold in powerlifting, EJ had to win the gold as well at the Asian Games,” Lafferty, 63, said. “The loser, if there is one, would pay for a dinner in Dubai in October.” Lafferty captured three gold medals in men’s 60-64 age group, dominating the strict arm curl, bench press, and push pull, which is a bench press plus deadlift in a combined total. Over 500 lifters qualified from around the globe and competed across 4 days this past week. Well, there was no loser between the two gentlemen after Obiena rocked the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Japan with a new 5.91 meters record that won him back-to-back Asian Games gold medals, since dominating the Hangzhou games three years ago with his prior 5.90m record. “EJ has proven himself the best pole vaulter in Asia for the second time. He is also a three-time Asian Champion, a two-time Olympian, fourth place among the best in Paris Olympics despite a spinal fracture that certainly impacted his performance. I honestly have never been more proud than of EJ and what he endured in Paris. He is the definition of toughness” added Lafferty. Lafferty is an American business executive and athletics coach who served already as chief executive officer for Fine Hygienic Holding, previously held regional CEO positions at Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola Company, and British American Tobacco. That was the hidden gold medal wager of Obiena and his mentor. Two men, two friends, and confidantes agreed to a gold standard performance, and they did it and now both will share the bill in their upcoming dinner in Dubai. TMT

LOS ANGELES — The NBA will choose owners for a new Las Vegas team "in the very near future," with a whopping $12-13 billion price tag for the franchise rights plus the cost of a new arena, ESPN reported Tuesday. The basketball league is currently eyeing two new teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, bringing the total number of NBA clubs to 32, potentially as soon as 2028. According to ESPN, a shortlist of three bidders remains for the Las Vegas team, including one bid spearheaded by Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie. Another is led by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos, and a third by Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey team owner Bill Foley. The NBA Board of Governors voted to explore the Las Vegas and Seattle markets in March, with formal approval for the expansions expected by December. A purpose-built new basketball arena at the southern end of the Strip has been widely mooted for the Las Vegas bid, though Knights owner Foley has also proposed adapting his NHL team's T-Mobile Arena. Las Vegas already hosts the off-season NBA Summer League, and the T-Mobile Arena hosted the semi-finals and finals of the first three editions of the mid-season NBA Cup. But the city — which boasts the NFL Raiders franchise and will soon welcome an MLB side — has never had its own NBA team. The Seattle team would be expected to play at the Climate Pledge Arena, home to the Kraken ice hockey team and on the site of the home of the former Seattle SuperSonics NBA team, which relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. A decision on Seattle team owners would take place at a later date.