Asian Games: PNVF admits efforts to support Alas Pilipinas Men 'not enough', vows to address athletes' financial woes

Bryan Bagunas shared that the Alas Pilipinas Men struggled in their loss to South Korea to open their 2026 Asian Games campaign on Sunday. But a battle outside the court also drew attention, as the veteran spiker opened up about the financial challenges faced by the national team.

The SIBOL esports team won a bronze medal in the Pokemon UNITE event, raising the Philippines' medal haul up to 11 medals in the 2026 Asian Games as of Sunday, September 27.

Tennielle Madis may have bowed out of the women"s singles competition at the 20th Asian Games, but the young Filipina is taking inspiration from Alex Eala as she prepares for her next event.

The SIBOL team bagged bronze in the Pokemon UNITE event after falling to Indonesia, 0-2, in the semifinals.

Kristel Macrohon was left just a few kilograms shy of the podium after finishing fourth in the women's 69kg weightlifting division at the 2026 Asian Games on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan.

MANILA, Philippines — Kristel Macrohon narrowly missed out on a podium finish after early execution missteps dashed her medal hopes in the 2026 Asian Games weightlifting competition on Sunday at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre in Japan. Macrohon finished fourth overall with a total lift of 227 kg, placing just two kilograms behind bronze medalist Ingrid Grueso of Bahrain, who logged a 229 kg total (101 kg snatch, 128 kg clean and jerk). The Filipina lifter delivered a strong start in the snatch segment by clearing 102 kg. However, early struggles in the clean and jerk proved costly, as she needed multiple attempts before successfully clearing 125 kg. North Korea’s Kuk Hyang Song dominated the event to claim gold, setting a world record with a combined lift of 273 kg (121 kg snatch). Chinese Taipei’s Wen-Huei Chen captured the silver medal with a 232 kg total (106 kg snatch, 126 kg clean and jerk).

MANILA, Philippines — Errors proved costly for Alas Pilipinas as the men’s volleyball team pushed South Korea to the limit late in the match before succumbing in straight sets, 25-16, 27-25, 25-23, to open its 2026 Asian Games campaign on Sunday afternoon at the Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Following a slow start in the opening frame, the 115th-ranked Nationals found their rhythm and nearly stole the second set against World No. 25 South Korea. Offensives led by Bryan Bagunas helped the Philippines secure set point twice at 25-24, but back-to-back attack errors handed the Koreans a 27-25 set victory and a 2-0 match lead. The Philippines remained competitive in the third set, trailing by just one point at 21-20. However, an attack error from Buds Buddin alongside a Sanghyeon Lee service ace gave South Korea a late 23-20 advantage. Alas mounted a late rally when Joshua Magalaman blocked Shin Hojin’s match-point attempt, followed by a service ace from Leo Ordiales to bring the Philippines within one at 23-22. The momentum quickly swung back to South Korea after a service error by Ordiales and a match-ending block on Marck Espejo’s back-row attack by Junhyeok Choi. While Alas dominated the net with a 10-5 advantage in blocks, unforced errors heavily swung the match outcome. The Philippines conceded 13 service errors compared to South Korea's three. Bagunas paced the Philippines with 15 points off 13 attacks, an ace, and a block. Magalaman and Ordiales contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Espejo added seven and Peng Taguibolos chipped in five. Setter Owa Retamar orchestrated the offense effectively, recording 33 excellent sets alongside two points. Sungjin Lim led South Korea with 12 points, supported by Donghyeok Im with 11 and Hanyong Jeong with eight. Youngseok Cha and Sanghyeon Lee added five points each. Alas Pilipinas now faces a crucial turnaround as they prepare to take on World No. 34 China on Monday. With only the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals, the match serves as a must-win scenario to keep their playoff hopes alive before potential relegation to the classification round. The Philippines previously finished 13th in the group stage during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

The Alas Pilipinas Men could not hold on down the stretch as South Korea pulled away to eke out a 25-16, 27-25, 25-22 win over the Filipinos in the 2026 Asian Games men's volleyball tournament.

Alexandra 'Alex' Eala will kick off her Asian Games redemption tour against a familiar foe in Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej as they battle it out in the Round of 16.

MANILA, Philippines — 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.

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start her 20th Asian Games women's singles gold medal bid in Nagoya, Japan. Seeded No. 1 in the continental meet with a first-round bye, WTA 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 for just 53 minutes on Sunday.

The honour of winning Hong Kong’s fifth gold medal of the Asian Games fell to squash pair Lee Ka-yi and Tang Ming-hong on Sunday, and while it did not come with a place at the Los Angeles Olympics, it left the former feeling “amazing” and her partner “completely empty”. There was silver too, of course, with the final at Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena a clash against close friends and Hong Kong teammates Toby Tse Yee-lam and Lai Cheuk-nam. Another fencing bronze was added to the city’s growing tally,...