Alex Eala rises to No. 3 seed in Singapore Open after Pegula pulls out

MANILA, Philippines—University of Santo Tomas recovered from its opening loss by nipping defending champion La Salle, 80-75, in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday night at Mall of Asia Arena. The Growling Tigers, who absorbed a 92-85 loss at the hands of last year’s losing finalist University of the Philippines on Sunday,

MANILA, Philippines—The parents of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia were in attendance at Mall of Asia Arena when Ateneo made its debut in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday. Elias and Ifeoma, Divine’s parents, were behind the bench of the Blue Eagles, who dominated the Red Warriors, 101-74, to open their campaign.

MANILA, Philippines—Playing the first game of the tournament dedicated to its fallen teammates Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia, Ateneo opened UAAP Season 89 with a rousing 101-74 win over University of the East on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena. With Adili’s parents in attendance, the Blue Eagles pulled away in the second quarter and

MANILA, Philippines — Aby Maraño, former Philippine women’s volleyball team captain, known for her grit and resilience, has called it a career after 22 years. Maraño announced her retirement on Wednesday. She last played for the Nxled Chameleons in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference. “Actually, retiring wasn’t an overnight decision for me. I had been

MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino sticks to the positives after her impressive Asian Games debut ended with Alas Pilipinas Women getting swept by defending champion China. Canino shone in her first Asiad with 14 points in the 18-25, 22-25, 8-25 loss the defending champions on Wednesday at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Japan. “Actually,

MANILA, Philippines — National University eyes a fifth consecutive title in the Shakey’s Super League when the Unity Cup opens on September 25 at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The Lady Bulldogs, now led by Vange Alinsug, Arah Panique, and Sam Cantada, brace for another tough competition against the six other UAAP teams, sans La Salle, and

ALEXANDRA “Alex” Eala is poised to secure the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye at the WTA 500 Singapore Tennis Open slated from Sept. 21 to 27 at the OCBC Arena, The Kallang. Initially seeded No. 6, world No. 18 Eala moved three places up after No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 13 Diana Shnaider and No. 15 Sorana Cirstea pulled out of the tournament. Pegula, Shnaider and Cirstea were supposed to claim the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively. The top four seeds in the 28-player field earn a first-round bye, starting their campaign in the second round. French Open champion No. 5 Mirra Andreeva and No. 10 Amanda Anisimova are the No. 1 and No. 3 seeded players, respectively. The other direct entrants listed on the tournament website are world No. 19 Elise Mertens, No. 21 Ekaterina Alexandrova, No. 26 Maja Chwalinska, No. 28 Sara Bejlek and No. 33 Maria Sakkari. Completing the list are No. 37 Donna Vekic, No. 38 Barbora Krejcikova, No. 40 Wang Xinyu, No. 41 Oleksandra Oliynykova and No. 51 Janice Tjen. The Singapore Open serves as Eala’s perfect buildup for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The Asian Games tennis play will run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, running smack into WTA 1000 China Open’s Sept. 30 to Oct. 11 schedule. Eala will skip the China Open in a bid to win the Asiad gold medal, which also merits a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 21-year-old will suffer a zero-point penalty, a $10,000 (P626,000) fine and potentially lose year-end bonuses if she skips China Open without WTA exemption. The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) requested the WTA to give Eala an exemption so she could avoid the penalties for skipping a 1000-tier tournament like the China Open. Top players like Eala are contractually obliged to compete in Grand Slams and 1000-tier tournaments. As of writing, there’s no word yet whether the WTA approved or denied Philta’s request albeit it already denied the same request from Indonesia’s Tjen. Tjen thus will play at the China Open and skip the Asian Games, instead. As for Eala, she will skip China and play at the Asian Games with or without the WTA exemption.

LEAGUE commissioner Willy Marcial came to the defense of the PBA-backed Gilas Pilipinas, which on Monday, bowed to China by 44 points, leading to the country’s worst-ever ninth place finish in the 20th Asian Games men’s basketball in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The amiable PBA Commissioner noted how big of a sacrifice the team has made in the national team’s quest to defend the Philippines’ Asian Games basketball championship. “The players made a big sacrifice. I salute them for all that they have done for the country,” Marcial told The Manila Times in Filipino. “People don’t see what the players have done behind the scenes.” Filipino basketball-crazy fans expressed their frustration on social media following the Philippines’ 105-61 shellacking at the hands of a vengeful China side at the close of the group stage on Monday at the Aichi International Arena. The 44-point beating sent the Philippines out of quarterfinal contention in the process as Gilas ended the group stage with a 1-2 record. The Filipinos opened the tournament with an 85-89 loss to Bahrain, recovered by scoring a 109-78 rout of Kazakhstan before the 44-point defeat at the hands of the Chinese. Despite the embarrassing ending and the national team’s failure to retain the Asian Games basketball gold, Marcial said the PBA remains steadfast in its support to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). “We’ve made all the adjustments already, but we, in the PBA, will continue to send all the support, all the help to SBP. If they need ball boys, we will send them. If they need players, or coaches, we will send them to support SBP also. Whatever help they need, we will help,” shared Marcial. Marcial was on hand to support Gilas, along with some members of the PBA board of governors in Nagoya.

ALAS Pilipinas fell to China, 18-25, 22-25, 8-25, in the Asian Games women’s volleyball opener at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Japan on Wednesday. The Filipino volleybelles managed to be competitive against the defending champs, especially in the second frame, but collapsed in the third as the Chinese dominated to secure the Pool B win. Alas fell into a 4-19 hole and trailed by as many as 17 points, 7-24, in the third set. China finished the match in one hour and eight minutes. Angel Canino fired 14 points to lead Alas as Eya Laure aided her with 10. Alyssa Solomon chipped in nine points for the Taka Minowa-coached team. Thea Gagate and Dell Palomata added three and two points, respectively. The Filipinos put up the most fight in the second set, where they came back from a 16-20 deficit and tie the count at 20 following a Gagate block on Tang Xin. Staying composed, the Chinese responded with a 4-0 run to eventually take the set. China carried the momentum in the third frame as it shut down the Philippines, which is now in a must-win situation against Kazakhstan on Thursday. A loss will end the Filipinos’ quarterfinal bid and relegate them to classification matches. Tang banged 18 points to lead the Chinese as Yushan Zhuang punched 17. Aoqian Wang chipped in 13 markers.

LOS ANGELES, California — The Toronto Raptors have finally acquired Kawhi Leonard back from the Los Angeles Clippers, in a trade that was delayed due to an NBA probe into major salary cap violations concerning the star forward. The Raptors confirmed in a statement that Leonard would return to the franchise where he played 2018–2019, after the NBA investigation concluded earlier this month, and the Clippers said they would comply with the league’s penalties. “We’re thrilled to welcome Kawhi back to Toronto. His impact on our organization, our city and our country is undeniable, and he embodies the competitiveness and championship mindset that we value,” said Raptors general manager Bobby Webster in a statement. “We believe his leadership, experience and talent will help us as we continue building toward our next championship.” Leonard was acquired in exchange for forward Brandon Ingram, guard-forward Gradey Dick, two future first-round draft picks, one future first-round pick swap and two future second-round picks. “We also want to thank Brandon and Gradey, and appreciate their work ethic, character and basketball excellence they brought to our team every day,” said the Raptors. During his previous Raptors stint, Leonard helped Toronto win its first and only NBA championship. Leonard subsequently moved to the Clippers, where he became embroiled in controversy. Earlier this month, the Clippers were found to have aided Leonard in evading salary cap rules in deals with team corporate sponsors. The Clippers were stripped of five first-round draft picks and fined $30 million by the NBA. Leonard was fined $700,000. The Clippers had agreed to trade Leonard to Toronto in July, but the Raptors said they would await the result of the investigation before finalizing the deal. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said on Sunday he would comply with the NBA’s punishment even though he disagreed with aspects of the league’s probe, paving the way for the trade to be completed.

BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi was on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) named in Argentina’s squad for a friendly against Benin on Oct. 6, a match that will serve as his farewell appearance after announcing his international retirement last month. The 39-year-old said in August he was retiring from Argentina duty after a two-decade international career that included winning the 2022 World Cup and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024. “We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on Oct. 6 here in Argentina,” said Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia. The match against Benin will take place at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which can accommodate 85,000 spectators. Tapia also invited all of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winners to join Messi for what he said would be an “unforgettable” occasion. Argentina begin a series of three friendlies against Bolivia on Sept. 30 in Cordoba — their first match since losing the World Cup final to Spain — before taking on Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on Oct. 3. Messi has been included in the squad for the third match against Benin, when he is expected to make his 208th and final appearance for the national team. He is Argentina’s all-time record scorer with 125 goals. Following the death of his father Jorge last month, Messi had said he had “serious doubts” about continuing to play football of any sort for “much longer.” “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi said when he called time on his Argentina career. His contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season. Last month, FIFA ordered Argentina to play their next home match with capacity reduced to 50 percent for breaches of its disciplinary code relating to using a sports event for making demonstrations of a nonsporting nature. After Argentina beat England, 2-1, in a tense World Cup semifinal in July, several players held up a banner saying: “The Falklands are Argentine.”

CEO Brian Rolapp said on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) the PGA Tour is not considering a path back for LIV Golf players like the program it offered Brooks Koepka and three other top players at the start of the year. LIV’s future has never been more murky after the rival circuit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week as it plots a new model no longer bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund. Still to be determined is how many players stick around for the less lucrative “LIV 2.0.” The other part of the equation is where else they would go. Koepka got out of the last year of his LIV contract and was offered a path back to the PGA Tour through the “returning member program.” Rolapp then offered that to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith — all major champions since 2022 when LIV launched — and gave them a three-week deadline to accept with no guarantee it would be offered again. “In terms of where we are today, we are not currently contemplating a returning member program like the one you saw in January,” Rolapp said on a conference call to discuss the eligibility for the new competition model on the PGA Tour that starts in 2028. “Everyone at the PGA Tour, myself included, has been focused on what is best for the organization.” Rolapp has leaned into meritocracy in the new model, making players earn their place. Koepka, along with the other players offered a return, had five-year exemptions from winning majors. Koepka was required to pay $5 million to charity, and he had no access to player equity grants for five years. He also was not eligible for any of the $20-million signature events unless he qualified for them through his play. Koepka failed to get into any of those tournaments, and he did not qualify for the PGA Tour’s postseason. Rahm has been elusive when it comes to his plans. He has one year left on the contract he signed ahead of the 2024 LIV season and now that contract is in doubt because of the Chapter 11 filing. “There’s a long legal process they have to go through before a lot of things fall into place,” Rahm said on Tuesday at the BMW PGA Championship on the European tour. “I really can’t give you an answer right now. ... Until this current season is done, I really won’t be able to give you an answer.”

Sri Lanka’s Asian Games 2026 medal prospect Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage returned home after winning the title at a top international event on Tuesday to find his prized javelins in pieces. The 23-year-old rising star, who has taken the javelin world by storm this year with a series of impressive victories, was heartbroken to discover that

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.

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.

Aby Maraño is stepping away from professional volleyball.

Alas Pilipinas women begin its Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 campaign against defending champion China in Pool B. SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas women at Asian Games 2026 volleyball September 16, Wednesday – Okazaki Central Park Gymnasium 12 nn – Alas Pilipinas vs China Alas Pilipinas puts up early fight in loss to China Alas Pilipinas Women were

Rookie Kieffer Alas dropped 24 points in his UAAP debut as the Ateneo de Manila University opened its UAAP Season 89 campaign with a 101-74 victory over the University of the East on Wednesday.

A cruise ship that will house thousands of athletes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 arrived in Japan on Tuesday as complaints over accommodation at the multi-sport event grew louder. The Italian cruise ship Costa Serena docked in Nagoya, where the Games are taking place until October 4. Around 4,000 athletes and officials will be

BOSTON — Paul George made one thing clear during his introductory news conference with the Boston Celtics on Tuesday: his ears work just fine. He’s heard the not-so silent chorus of Celtics fans who bemoaned the front office’s decision to jettison 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown in the July trade with Philadelphia that sent

Divine Adili"s parents, Elias and Ifeoma, visited the Philippines for the first time, but his mother wished the circumstances were different, as she would have wanted to be here watching her son play instead.

MANILA, Philippines — With the parents of their late teammate Divine Adili — Ifeoma and Elias — watching in the stands, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles walloped University of the East Red Warriors, 101-74, to kickstart their UAAP Season 89 men's basketball campaign at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday. Adili and teammate Rene Baterbonia drowned in the Blue Eagles' team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8. One hundred (100) days after the tragedy, the UAAP offered a moment of silence to the late student-athletes before the Ateneo-UE game. The Blue Eagles pulled away in the second frame with a 24-10 run, flipping a 29-23 lead to a 20-point, 53-33 advantage in the last 1:55 of the first half. Ateneo continued to pound UE in the second half and led by as many as 38 points, 93-55, following a Mike Asoro three-pointer with 8:55 left in the final canto.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament Ateneo def. UE, 101-74 Kieffer Alas Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

The MoonPay X Games League will hold its inaugural winter draft this week, ⁠betting that a team-based format and ⁠closer ties with the Olympic movement can build on ⁠strong audience growth for action sports, CEO Jeremy Bloom said. Eileen Gu, the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history with three golds and three silvers, is expected to be selected first overall. The draft follows the debut of the X Games Summer League, which featured teams representing Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paulo...

MANILA, Philippines — The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on Wednesday clarified that it has no affiliation with a basketball tournament being promoted under the name “UAAP-South.” The UAAP issued the clarification after learning that a certain association is organizing a basketball tournament using the “UAAP-South” name. In a statement, the UAAP warned the public that the tournament is not sanctioned or affiliated with the collegiate sports league. “The unauthorized use of the term ‘UAAP’ for the tournament ‘UAAP-South’ is illegal and constitutes a violation of the UAAP’s protected property right over its corporate name, logo, and seal,” the UAAP said. The league also said it is prepared to take legal action against those behind the unauthorized use of its name. “The UAAP reserves all its rights and remedies under the law and shall prosecute all persons responsible for any unauthorized use of the term ‘UAAP’ in their basketball tournament and sports activities,” it added. The UAAP Season 89 basketball tournament officially got underway on Sunday.

The parents of the late Divine Adili arrived at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday to watch the first game of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 89.

BOSTON — Paul George made one thing clear during his introductory news conference with the Boston Celtics on Tuesday: his ears work just fine. He’s heard the not-so silent chorus of Celtics fans who bemoaned the front office’s decision to jettison 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown in the July trade with Philadelphia that sent the 36-year-old George to his fifth NBA team. But George also isn’t shying away from his new situation. “I understand my circumstances. I understand how huge JB was, not only for the organization, but here in the city. So, I didn’t take it personal,” George said. “To be honest, they should have a relationship, emotionally, to that trade. But my job is to kind of come into a great opportunity for me. Obviously, the last few years have been rough, just with injuries. But for myself, personally, I feel great again. I feel like I’ve turned that corner of dealing with injuries, and now, kind of re-establishing myself from a physical standpoint again. And with that, I can carry it over to the court.” George, along with acquisitions Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley, Jr. represent president of basketball operations Brad Stevens’ attempt to shore up the roster alongside Jayson Tatum. The franchise centerpiece, Tatum is embarking on his first full season since tearing his Achilles tendon in May 2025 and then having his return late last season end with him being sidelined for the Celtics’ Game 7 first-round playoff loss to George and the 76ers. Robinson comes in fresh off winning a championship with the Knicks, and the 38-year-old Conley will be suiting up with his fourth NBA team as he prepares for his 20th NBA season. Robinson missed Tuesday’s news conference for a personal matter, but Stevens said he’s liked what he’s seen over the past few weeks during workouts between the three newcomers and returning members of Boston’s roster as they prepare to open training camp in two weeks. The trio also joined Tatum and other current Celtics for informal workouts this summer. The team held its annual season launch event on Monday and Stevens said there was only one image behind him when he spoke to everyone – a photo of the TD Garden court being refurbished. “That happens every year right around the end of July. And to me, every single year you go through it looks like the blank canvas of a court being absolutely redone,” Stevens said. “Nobody’s stepped on it. And now it’s that year’s team. To write its own chapter. And I felt that way every time they do it.” Characterized as a facelift or a complete renovation, the key players of the Celtics teams that hoisted the franchise’s 18th title in 2024 have changed over the summer. Whether those alterations wind up paying off will depend on what this new trio — and particularly George — can provide at this stage of their careers. Conley will be a role player behind Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, with Robinson likely backing up starting center Neemias Queta. But for a player such as George, who has nine All-Star and six All-NBA selections, expectations are higher as he looks to step into the role of Tatum’s tag team partner in the starting lineup. Conley insisted he’s “still got a lot left” and thinks two things he and George enter on Day 1 with are leadership and instant motivation to produce. “It’s two guys who haven’t had a chance to win a championship,” Conley said. “So, it’s that sense of urgency that maybe reignites that for the guys who’ve been on this team, who’ve already won it.” George reiterated several times that a run of injuries he had with the Los Angeles Clippers and Sixers, including knee surgery prior to last season, are in the rearview, and that he is a “great” place physically and mentally. “It’s a new group, a new opportunity,” George said. “I think they’re getting, someone that’s ready to, not fill the shoes or fill the void of JB, but I think from a personal standpoint myself, I think I can come in and kind of still keep us in that contention. Give us a chance to win.”

Alexandra Eala is projected to move up to the No. 3 seed in the WTA 500 Singapore Open after American star Jessica Pegula withdrew from the tournament.

University of Perpetual Help seeks its first victory in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament when it battles Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026.  Game time is 3 p.m.  The Altas opened their campaign with a 77-84 setback against last year’s finalist Letran Knights last Sunday. The Las Pinas-based team will next face the EAC Generals in a rematch of the pre-season Pinoy Liga Collegiate Cup 2026 finals where the Altas of coach Olsen Racela prevailed early this month. "We need to win this match, so we don't get bogged down on two consecutive losses, I know they can do it as a team effort," Racela said.  Racela will continue to rely on Gelo Gelsano, Shawn Orgo, JM Tulabut, JD Pagulayan and Mark Gojo Cruz to lead the team.  Gelsano finished with a double-double performance of 11 points and 10 rebounds last Sunday while Pagulayan added 18 points, including 12 from the 3-point area.  Letran, on the other hand, was led by rookie Denzil Walker who scored 21 points behind a 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. The Junior Altas, meanwhile, also seeks to bounce back from an opening day loss against the Letran Squires, 81-82, last Tuesday in the juniors division. The team of coach Joph Cleopas rallied in the end game led by Brian Orca Jr and Louie Rosales but fell short of claiming victory.  The Junior Altas and the EAC Brigadiers collide at 10 a.m.

Alas Pilipinas Women made a gallant stand before collapsing in the final set to absorb an 18-25, 22-25, 8-25 loss to defending champion China to open its 2026 Asian Games campaign on Wednesday in Japan.

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas fell to China, 18-25, 22-25, 8-25, in the Asian Games women's volleyball opener at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Japan on Wednesday. The Filipino volleybelles managed to be competitive against the defending champs especially in the second frame, but collapsed in the third as the Chinese dominated to secure the Pool B win. Alas fell into a 4-19 hole and trailed by as many as 17 points, 7-24, in the third set.

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker said the government should help Alex Eala pay for the $10,000 fine that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) may impose on her, after the Filipino tennis star chose to join the national team for the coming Asian Games instead of the China Open scheduled around the same time. “If she