LIVE: Alas Pilipinas vs China – Asian Games 2026 women’s volleyball MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas Women were swept by defending champion China, 18-25, 22-25, 8-25, in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Japan. Alas put up a gallant stand in the first two sets, but China,

MANILA, Philippines — After 22 years of competing at the highest level, veteran volleyball player Aby Maraño has announced her retirement from professional volleyball. Maraño, who last played for the Nxled Chameleons in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), made the announcement on Wednesday, saying her decision was the result of a long and deeply considered process. “Today, with a heart that is both incredibly heavy and incredibly grateful, I am announcing my retirement from professional volleyball,” Maraño said in a social media post. “For 22 years, this has been my world. And for a long time, I have known that the day would come when I would have to close this chapter as a professional volleyball player in the Philippines,” she added. Maraño admitted that walking away from the sport was painful, but said she eventually found peace in her decision. “This hurts even more than breaking up with someone. It hurts so much. I don’t know where to put all this pain. But when that moment finally came, somewhere between the tears and the sadness, I felt something I never expected: peace,” she said. The veteran player also reflected on her career, saying she had given everything she could to volleyball and had no regrets about the path she took. “I have made the most of it. I have poured my heart and soul into it. And most importantly, I have no ‘what ifs’,” Maraño said. Maraño represented the Philippine national team from 2015 to 2023 and built a decorated club career with the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, Chery Tiggo Crossovers and Nxled Chameleons in the PVL. After more than two decades on the court, Maraño now closes the chapter on a career that saw her become one of the familiar faces of Philippine volleyball.

Amiel Acido and Collins Akowe led the University of Santo Tomas past De La Salle University, 80-75, for the Growling Tigers" first win of UAAP Season 89 on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

We have to call it what it is: a debacle. This is our worst ever finish in the Asian Games. Ninth place, eliminated in the Group rounds.  This is probably the worst performance by a defending champion at the Asian Games. It’s even worse than the 7th place finish from the Gilas team who were exhausted from competing in the World Cup just weeks before.  That team had serious issues, including the sudden replacement of Andray Blatche due to eligibility. Asian Games eligibility rules are volatile, and naturalized player Blatche was disqualified because he lacked residency–which is no longer a requirement now.  Aside from coach Tim Cone’s sweeping, Captain Obvious statement that “we did not send our best players,” we can narrow down some factors. It should be mentioned that it was not really expected for this team to defend the gold medal. South Korea sent their Team A, and China also wanted to compete. Our FIBA windows team would have found it difficult to beat either one, perhaps even with a naturalized player. Speaking of that:  No Naturalized Player We can’t overstate not using any naturalized player in a tournament where we could have used more than one. We don’t have Brownlee or Boatwright, but we had two tall players the SBP did not bother to tap. Then we complain that we’re undersized.  This could have made a difference. The key was the Bahrain game, which Gilas should have won. They had four naturalized players, all taller than our centers. Our guards were busy double-teaming Sampson and Thomas, they left Mustafa “Mosti” Rashed (no.73) open for three pointers. The imports and Rashed all had 20+ points. Even Malik Diouf would have helped prevent or lessen that. With a close game, that would’ve turned the tables. No Priority Just like most countries, the Philippines was more focused on the FIBA window. However, the pride of being the defending champions should not be scoffed at.  China was obviously sore at Gilas for defeating them in 2023. That was evident in their effort to eliminate us in the last group game. The team did not let up even until the final buzzer. It was natural for Gilas since they were fighting for their lives. China was already the top seed and had nothing to compete for–except sweet revenge. If China placed value on the Asian Games, why shouldn’t we?  Is this an admission by the SBP that we really cannot compete without the Japan-Korea Asian imports? Or is it the reverse: were they rying to make a point that an all-PBA team could survive in the international scene? From Tim Cone’s statement, it seems like it’s the former. Despite assistant coach Richard del Rosario’s denials, the team accepted their fate.  For one thing, they could’ve formed the team and practiced early, since they did not plan on using players from the Window. Except for Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana, who were late replacements for the FIBA games, this was a totally different team. If they weren’t using Cj Perez, Scottie Thompson, Juan Gomez de Liano, and others, they should’ve finalized the roster since the start of the PBA break. Failed Experiments Robert Bolick was heavily advocated, even in this space. It seems like the reservations on his international play hold water. In my proposed Team A, I would replace him with Calvin Oftana, the 12th man, late addition. It’s a tough job since the players’ performances fluctuate. Oftana was criticized in the last window, but he redeemed himself now.  Sedrick Barefield was another name heavily suggested. This is the only tourney where he is eligible, but his hero-ball mentality just simply didn’t work at this level. The Big Question How should we treat the Asian Games, and the SEA Games for that matter?  Should it be an audition for FIBA, so young prospects should take the cudgels? Or should we develop a totally separate pool where FIBA ineligible players can finally show their wares?  The PBA will reload more of both sides of the talent pool in the 2027 Draft. They owe their fans at least a podium finish in the 2030 Asiad.

MANILA, Philippines — National University puts its dynasty on the line against 16 other teams itching to end its four-year reign and bag the hefty cash incentive as the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup takes center stage starting September 25 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The Lady Bulldogs brace for another tough competition from six UAAP squads and 10 NCAA teams in the league’s much-anticipated centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea. This year, SSL, through its main backer Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI), is adding cash prizes for podium finishers, with the champion bagging P1 million, P600,000 for the runner-up while the third-place squad will pocket P300,000. Individual award winners get P10,000 each while the tournament Most Valuable Player will be given P30,000 cash.      “After our successful staging of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League and the National Invitationals to start the season, of course, we want this year’s Unity Cup to be bigger, thrilling, and explosive,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president and chairman of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES), during the competition’s press conference on Wednesday at the Shakey’s Quezon Avenue branch. Also present during the press launch were SPAVI President and CEO Vic Gregorio, SPAVI General Manager Oliver Sicam and SPAVI Marketing Head Regina Asa, as well as coaches and key players from participating teams.   “Since 2004, Shakey’s has been there supporting the growth and development of the sport here in the country. And Shakey’s continues that commitment through the staging of the SSL,” Gregorio said.     Intense volleyball action remains the same despite reigning UAAP champion De La Salle University taking another leave of absence due to injuries to some of its key players. The 17 squads are divided into four pools to play in a single-round robin format in the preliminary round. NU is in Pool A with San Beda University, Arellano University, University of Perpetual Help and NCAA champion Letran College. Newly crowned SSL National Invitationals champion and last year’s Unity Cup runner-up University of Santo Tomas, College of Saint Benilde, Jose Rizal University and Mapua University are bunched in Pool B. Pool C is composed of Far Eastern University, Ateneo De Manila University, Emilio Aguinaldo College and San Sebastian College-Recoletos while Adamson University, University of the Philippines, Lyceum University of the Philippines and University of the East, which makes a comeback after skipping last year’s edition, are in Pool D. The top two teams of each pool will advance to the next round, where they will be divided into two groups for another round-robin play. Points earned by each team in the preliminary will be added to the round to determine their rankings in the quarterfinals. The top two-ranked squads after the round will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals of the tilt supported by Smart, PusoP.com, Summit Natural Drinking Water, with the Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, Jersey Haven, Solar Sports and 12 Beyond Production as technical partners. Both the semifinals and battle for bronze are knockout affairs, while the championship is a best-of-three series. The tournament’s unique all-to-play format is still in effect, where all players on each team’s game roster must see action. Following international standards, the league will use the latest video challenge system with animated replay visualization to capture contested plays in greater detail. The system will be available for use in the second round.   “Of course, we want teams to experience playing under international standards through innovations and the latest volleyball technology,” Laurel said. Shakey’s has also brought back its Super Bundle Meal. In every Super Bundle sold, P50 will be donated to the customer’s chosen school.    The Unity Cup is the culmination of another successful SSL season. SSL started the year with a record 44 teams competing in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League, followed by international-flavored National Invitationals that saw foreign guest teams compete in the collegiate division and inaugural high school division.     All games are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports. TMT

MANILA, Philippines — In order to motivate the players and take their preseason league a little more seriously, the Shakey's Super League (SSL) Unity Cup is offering a P1 million cash prize for the eventual champ. The runner-up will bag P600,000 while the third-place team will pocket P300,000 in the 17-team field tournament which begins on September 25. The other playing dates are September 26, 27; October 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25, and November 6, 7, 8 13, 14, 15, 20, 22, 29, and December 4 (if necessary). "How else can we make it more exciting," SPAVI President and CEO Vic Gregorio said during the tournament launch at the Shakey's Quezon Avenue branch Wednesday.  "How can we help more, how can we excite the team, the efforts of the schools. Let’s just make sure we do it right. We do give the best benefit we can to our stakeholders. But we have to abide with regulations and we have to be always fair in our operations and execution of the league "This is to make sure that the schools will have an extra motivation, motivation to give it their best to take this pre-season tournament even more seriously and we believe the amounts that we just shared should be able to provide some support and help to their programs or to maybe have fun with your celebrate with your teams." Five-peat seeking NU Lady Bulldogs are the favorites to win the title and that P1 million especially with their fiercest rivals De La Salle Lady Spikers not competing in the other tournament. NU is in Pool A with San Beda University, Arellano University, University of Perpetual Help and NCAA champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Newly crowned SSL National Invitationals champion and last year’s Unity Cup runner-up University of Santo Tomas, College of Saint Benilde, Jose Rizal University and Mapua University are bunched in Pool B. Pool C is composed of Far Eastern University, Ateneo De Manila University, Emilio Aguinaldo College and San Sebastian College-Recoletos while Adamson University, University of the Philippines, Lyceum University of the Philippines and University of the East, which makes a comeback after skipping last year’s edition, are in Pool D. The top two teams of each pool will advance to the next round, where they will be divided into two groups for another round-robin play. Points earned by each team in the preliminary will be added to the round to determine their rankings in the quarterfinals. The top two-ranked squads after the round will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals. Both the semifinals and battle for bronze are knockout affairs, while the championship is a best-of-three series. The tournament’s unique all-to-play format is still in effect, where all players on each team’s game roster must see action.

MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas held off De La Salle, 80-75, to bounce back in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday. Amiel Acido poured 19 points including the insurance free throws in the last six seconds, as the Growling Tigers recovered from their season-opening loss to University of the Philippines last Sunday. Acido added seven rebounds and seven assists to his name while Collins Akowe pumped 18 points and 10 rebounds for UST, which improved to 1-1 and dragged La Salle to the same record. Vhors Marasigan paced La Salle with 16 points and three rebounds.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament UST def. DLSU, 80-75 Amiel Acido Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

MANILA, Philippines — Ifeoma Adili, mother of the late Ateneo men's basketball team member Divine Adili, said she appreciate the moment of silence offered to her son and Rene Baterbonia before the Blue Eagles - UE Red Warriors game in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday, September 16. One hundred (100) days after the death of her son as well as Baterbonia, Ifeoma, who witnessed the game from the stands, couldn't help but wish she was watching her son play instead. Ateneo blasted UE, 101-74, to start its campaign. "I’m delighted to be here but I wish I am watching my son but I really appreciate what I see because I know that my son is there. Divine and Rene, they are there. They might be invisible but I know my son is there," said Ifeoma who watched the game with her husband and Divine's father Elias. "But I wish I could come to the Philippines to watch my son play because that's what I've been desiring and I know my son desired that to bring us to the Philippines to come and watch him live though we have been watching every [one] of his games. "We have been watching every [one] of his games since he came to the Philippines and he desired to bring us here but it's unfortunate that we come to Philippines to watch other teams, other [teammates] without him. But it's fine, it's good. God knows the best. Thank you." Divine and Rene were supposed to play their sophomore and rookie seasons, respectively. They drowned in Ateneo's team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8. Ifeoma and Elias said Ateneo assisted them to come here in the Philippines primarily for "fact-finding", and it just happened that the Blue Eagles were playing so they decided to watch. Ifeoma and Elias shared how they've been holding up since losing their 21-year-old Divine. "Honestly, it has not been easy. I tried to move on. But honestly, it has not been easy for me. Even as I entered the Philippines, the moment I stepped in at the airport, I felt so emotional," said Ifeoma. "I prayed to God to always, three days that we have been in the Philippines, I have been praying that God should give me the heart. I don't want to cry. But unfortunately today, the moment I stepped into the playground, I saw myself crying. But it's fine. Thank you." Elias said there's nothing they can do to bring back their son to life, and they just have to live with the pain. "Since the the date of the incident, I can tell you that men do cry. But their tears flow into their hearts. It flows into their hearts and that's why we die early," said Elias. "I thank God for sustaining me up to this moment. If you see tears in my eyes, it's another flow of the tears in my heart. So we have to live with it. There's nothing we can do. We can't bring him back. We have cried, we have shed tears, we have complained, we have thought. But there's nothing we can do. Thank God we saw his remains."

The Gilas Pilipinas Men U23 team opened its 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup campaign with back-to-back losses on Wednesday in Wuhan, China.