Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start Asiad gold bid

MEDINAH, Ill. — President Donald Trump returned to the Presidents Cup as honorary chairman for the second time, getting a loud cheer and keeping his remarks brief. "These people want to see golf," he said Sunday. And just like his last visit to the Presidents Cup in 2017, he saw the Americans win. They rallied with the best performance on the final day in tournament history. "Our team played unbelievable golf. They went in with a massive deficit, and they came out with a tremendous victory, just a great comeback," Trump told reporters when he landed back at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington. His visit to Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago marked the fourth time Trump has gone to a golf tournament this year. He arrived early and participated in the closing ceremony, helping with the presentation of the trophy to the winning U.S. team. Security was tight. The Secret Service would not let spectators cross from one side of the first fairway to the other except for when Trump took a break from greeting players to go inside a suite. Trump also was honorary chairman at the 2017 Presidents Cup during his first term. He showed up at Liberty National, across the Hudson River from Manhattan, toward the end of the competition when the Americans were assured of winning. He posed with U.S. players during the trophy presentation. This time, he arrived before the start of the 12 singles matches in the final session. Flanked by PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, Trump greeted players and caddies on both teams. In between player introductions, he watched the action on the videoboard at No. 1. Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world and among several golfers who have played with Trump, patted the president's shoulder as he walked onto the tee. U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker also visited the president a couple of times. "He told me I was going to bring some energy today for you guys, you guys need it, and I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit," Snedeker said after the U.S. closed out the victory. "Thank you, President Trump." Trump signed three hats for fans, and he responded to sections of the crowd clamoring for his attention by pointing, waving and offering a thumbs-up. When a fan yelled "We love you Donnie!" right before Chris Gotterup's tee shot, Trump waved discreetly. He congratulated both teams during the closing ceremony. He also posed for photos and handed out challenge coins to Team USA and their significant others. Trump was introduced by Rolapp at the beginning of the session, prompting Trump to remark "the fake news media will say I got a very bad reception." The president spoke briefly, noting that Rolapp had asked him to make a short speech. "I said, 'No, I don't have the courage to make a speech. These people want to see golf. They don't want to hear speeches,'" Trump said. "I'll only say this: Our country is doing great, better than ever before." Unlike regular golf tournaments, the first tee is boisterous with a flag-waving crowd and music at the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, which Trump attended last year at Bethpage Black on Long Island in New York. The Americans lost the Ryder Cup to Europe, but they rallied past the International team for their 11th consecutive Presidents Cup win. Before the horseshoe-shaped grandstand was filled, the loudest buzz was Air Force One flying over Medinah, louder than any of the commercial airlines that have been flying over the course every 70 seconds throughout the week during descent to O'Hare International Airport. "They were nice enough to name me chairman or honorary chairman, so it's an honor. It's a very big event, one of the biggest events in golf by far," Trump told reporters Sunday morning as he left the White House. "You have the Ryder Cup, and you have the Presidents Cup, and this is a big one, and so it's a great honor. So, I'm going there." It's a traditional role offered to leaders of every country where the tournament is played. The Presidents Cup began in 1994 to include international players from non-European countries who were not eligible for the more famed Ryder Cup. The name of the tournament comes from including the head of state of the host country as honorary chairman. Then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was part of the trophy presentation at the last Presidents Cup in 2024 at Royal Montreal. President Bill Clinton was in office in 2000 when he attended for one round at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. The first time Trump attended in 2017, the start of the week was the biggest display of presidents when Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama sat together on the first tee for the opening round. Trump this year was at the Cadillac Championship at his Trump National Doral near Miami in early May. He also attended the LIV Golf event at his Trump National Bedminster course in New Jersey in August. Earlier this month he attended the Irish Open at his course in Doonbeg, Ireland.

Alexandra Eala will open her campaign in the Asian Games women"s singles tournament, while Olympians Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will look to advance to the next round of the boxing tournament.

Follow along with Team Philippines' campaign in the 2026 Asian Games on Monday, September 28, 2026.

MANILA, Philippines — The Mindoro Tamaraws and the Basilan Steel clash for a playoff slot at 7 p.m. on Monday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season Play-in Stage at the Calapan City Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro. Whoever wins becomes the seventh seed in the South Division, with the loser relegated to a knockout match with the winner of the 5 p.m. game between the Zamboanga SiKat and the Imus Yangkee. Having beaten the Steel in their encounter earlier this year, 83-75, and with the hometown crowd behind them, the Tamaraws are slight picks to join outright qualifiers Quezon Province, Binan, Gensan, Batangas City, Cebu and Rizal Province in the quarterfinal playoffs. If this happens, Mindoro's next foe would be No. 2 finisher Binan. The Tamaraws would again lean on MPBL All-Stars Bambam Gamalinda and JC Recto, Jayjay Caspe, Marion Magat, RJ Ramirez and John Apacible in their bid for a repeat over the Steel. Basilan, on the other hand, would depend on gunners John Wilson and Byron Villarias, Gab Cometa, Jervy Cruz and JV Casio. Mindoro also made the 2025 Season playoffs as No. 8, falling to top qualifier and eventual division champion Quezon, 0-2, in the quarterfinals. With its superior record, Zamboanga (11-14) is expected to prevail over Imus (4-21), the last play-in qualifier/ Zamboanga also subdued Imus, 102-92, in the eliminations, apart from having proven contributors like Paeng Are, Forthsky Padrigao, Brandon Wilson, Joshua Lazaro, Levi Hernandez and Joseph Gabayni. Imus is pinning its upset bid on Jaypee Belencion, Regie Boy Basibas and Jordan Rios. TMT

WASHINGTON, United States — The Washington Commanders and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota stunned Seattle 33-31 Sunday, handing the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks their first loss of the season. The Commanders, reeling from two losses and another injury to their franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels, turned to 32-year-old journeyman Mariota, who completed three passing touchdowns and 183 yards for victory. Seattle's franchise-best 12-game winning streak was snapped despite their own star quarterback Sam Darnold returning from injury to pass for 379 and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. Washington struck first, seizing on a fumble by Seattle rookie star Jadarian Price. Mariota found Rachaad White for a passing touchdown on the next drive. Darnold hit back with an endzone pass to the dangerous Jackson Smith-Njigba, but Mariota located Treylon Burks to regain the lead. Seattle turned the ball over again and Mariota sent a 30-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin for a 14-point advantage. The Seahawks offence raised its game. Backup tight end Eric Saubert received a 13-yard touchdown pass, before Smith-Njigba grabbed his second to tie the game 24-24. But after a Commanders field goal re-established a slender lead, Darnold gave up a pick-six. His pass was intercepted by Kain Medrano, a special teams player and backup linebacker, who raced 50 yards to make it 33-24. Another relentless Seahawks drive pulled back one touchdown, to Cooper Kupp, but Washington held out for the upset win. Elsewhere on a Sunday packed with tight games and frequently lead changes, star running back Jahmyr Gibbs helped the Detroit Lions to see off a spirited Jets fightback and prevail 31-24. New York's Garrett Wilson took a superb 4th down catch from Geno Smith that was ruled a touchdown on video review, and a two-point conversion tied the game 24-24. But the joy was short-lived. Gibbs rushed for his third touchdown, Wilson departed injured, and Jets quarterback Smith was sacked on 4th down to snuff out any further comebacks. Cleveland quarterback DeShaun Watson, making his home season debut after being booed by his own fans in the offseason, led the Browns to a last-gasp 21-18 win over the Carolina Panthers. Watson -- in the final year of a $230 million five-year contract that has been ravaged by injuries and off-field controversy -- threw for two touchdowns including a go-ahead 14-yard sling to Harold Fannin Jr. with less than two minutes on the clock. Pittsburgh bagged a late win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Veteran Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers shook off recent woes with a bright start including touchdown passes of 38 yard and 23 yards to Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek respectively. Cincinnati took a fourth-quarter lead, but two field goals and a late turnover sealed the Steelers win 30-27. And the Indianapolis Colts needed a 53-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to beat the Houston Texans 19-17. - Bills, Chiefs win - The Buffalo Bills defeated the winless Los Angeles Chargers 24-16. Bills quarterback Josh Allen had a rough game by his own high standards, with Buffalo conceding committing five turnovers. But they ultimately proved too good, pulling clear late with rushing touchdowns from Allen and James Cook III. The Kansas City Chiefs were comfortable in a 24-10 win over the Miami Dolphins, while the New England Patriots -- last year's Super Bowl losers -- were thrashed 35-6 by Jacksonville. And the Tennessee Titans remain 0-3, as quarterback Cam Ward threw a disastrous interception on a potentially winning drive against the New York Giants, who won 12-7.

Canada's Leylah Fernandez beat Australia's Talia Gibson 7-5 6-0 on Sunday to clinch the Singapore Open title and claim the sixth WTA title of her career.

Kenyan runners ruled the Singlife One Clark International Marathon held last September 20 at the Clark Parade Grounds in Pampanga.

Around 10,000 runners are expected to join medical laboratory Hi-Precision Diagnostics" fun run set for November 8 at the Filinvest City Events Grounds in Alabang.

The Philippines added two more medals to its haul as athletics" John Cabang Tolentino and the Sibol Pokémon UNITE team bagged bronze medals on Sunday at the 2026 Asian Games.

FILIPINO Olympic boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam look to secure podium finishes in their respective divisions at the 20th Asian Games in Japan on Monday. Petecio guns for a semifinal berth and at least a bronze medal as she faces Chinese Yang Chengyu in the women's 60-kg quarterfinals at the Nishio Gymnasium. The Olympic silver and bronze medalist takes on Yang at 4:30 p.m. in Manila. Meanwhile, Olympic silver medalist Paalam likewise aims to secure a bronze in the men's 55-kg division quarterfinals at the same venue.   Paalam battles Chinese Zhang Jiamao at 5:15 p.m. Eventual losing semifinalists in boxing will no longer figure in a battle for third matches and will be awarded with bronze medals right away, instead. Petecio booked her quarterfinal ticket after scoring an RSC (referee stops contest) win against Jordanian Mays Alreem Abukhadijah in the first round (round of 16) last Saturday. The 34-year-old unleashed a right hook at the 1:51 mark of the second round that shook Abukhadijah, as the referee deemed it a knockdown and ruled the latter unfit to continue after the count. If Petecio beats Yang, she will face either Tajik Mijgona Samadova or Indian Priya. On the other hand, Paalam scored a majority decision win over Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in their round of 16 clash last Saturday. “We’ll just do our best. In every fight, at least we have no regrets once we step into the ring because we really sacrifice everything for the win,” Paalam said in Filipino to POC Media. “Please don’t bash us because the fights here are extremely difficult. Support us, don’t bash us, because just by carrying our names here, we are already carrying the Philippines. We’re not just carrying our family names, we’re carrying our country.” If Paalam gets past Zhang, he will face either Kazakh Makhmud Sabyrkhan or South Korean Shin Jaeyong in the semifinals.

FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start her 20th Asian Games women's singles gold medal bid at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya, Japan. The 21-year-old Eala arrived in Japan on Saturday evening. Seeded No. 1 in the continental meet with a first-round bye, world No. 18 Eala takes on No. 510 Cheapchandej in the second round likely on Monday. The order of play for Monday's matches wasn't revealed yet as of writing. Cheapchandej dominated Pakistani Mahin Aftab Qureshi, 6-1, 6-1, in their first-round clash that lasted only 53 minutes on Sunday. If Eala gets past Cheapchandej, she will face either Iranian Mandegar Farzami or Taiwanese Joanna Garland in the quarterfinals. Eala also competes in the doubles side with Shaira Rivera, as they face the Hong Kong tandem of Lai Ching Laam and Liu Kallista in the first round. A win by Eala and Rivera would pit them against the Chinese duo of Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan in the second round. Jiang and Yang received a first-round bye. Meanwhile, another Filipino women's singles bet Tennielle Madis fell to No. 7 seed Himeno Sakatsume in the first round, 1-6, 0-6, on Sunday. At press time, Philippine mixed doubles players Rivera and Francis Alcantara were facing the Iranian tandem of Meshkatolzahra Safi and Kasra Rahmani in the first round.

WHILE there had been many speculations on Justin Brownlee’s health status, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone stressed that the beloved Gin Kings import “intends to return.” “We're in communication with him. He intends to return, but no date yet,” Cone told The Manila Times over the weekend. The American mentor did not say what has made the four-time PBA Best Import, except to reply in the affirmative that Brownlee continues to recover from his injuries. The 38-year-old Brownlee has been out of commission for over two months already since he last suited up for Gilas Pilipinas in a double overtime loss to New Zealand in Auckland last July in the third window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. Brownlee then, missed the away game versus Australia in Perth, along with a pair of home games of the fourth window where Gilas beat Jordan and Iran, respectively. The seven-time PBA champion import also missed Gilas’ recent stint in the Asian Games where the national team failed to retain its men’s basketball crown in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Puerto Rican forward Jordan Murphy,  G League veteran, has been tapped to serve as Ginebra’s import when the Season 50 Governors’ Cup resumes in the first week of October. Murphy arrived last Thursday and will continue what Riley Grigsby started for the Gin Kings. The Gin Kings struggled with Grigsby as their import after winning just two of their first six games, slumping at the bottom of the Group B standings in the process just before the league took a break to give way for Cone and Gilas’ international tournaments. Grigsby averaged 31.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks in a solid pinch-hitting job through six games stint with the Gin Kings. Cone expects Murphy to create an impact on both ends of the floor. “We expect him to be an in to out player. We’ve only had him for one practice, so there is more to learn about him,” said Cone.