Gilas women roll past Hong Kong to book Asian Games quarterfinal spot

MANILA, Philippines – Angelo Que returns to the Philippine Golf Tour spotlight with his sights set on another championship, while Aidric Chan and multi-titled Clyde Mondilla also rejoin the hunt as a formidable field converges for the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic beginning Monday (Sept. 21) at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Negros Occidental. Fresh from a 1-2 finish at Summit Point last week, Que and Chan had been uncertain about their participation in the sixth leg of the PGT as they were also campaigning in Taiwan. But after both failed to make the weekend cut, the two are expected to make the trip home in time for the opening round of the P2.5-million championship. Mondilla, meanwhile, skipped the Summit Point stop to honor a previous commitment but has confirmed his return this week, further deepening an already talent-packed cast for the 10-leg circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. With three of the tour’s big guns back in the fold, defending champion Rupert Zaragosa’s bid for a third straight championship here faces another stern test at the tight and demanding Marapara layout. Zaragosa headlines a field that also includes five-time Order of Merit winner Tony Lascuña, Jhonnel Ababa, Reymon Jaraula, Zanieboy Gilaon, Guido van der Valk, Fidel Concepcion and Jeffren Lumbo – a group whose contrasting styles and experience could make for another intriguing four-day battle. The Marapara course is expected to put a premium on precision and course management, with its tight confines leaving little room for wayward shots. And with partly cloudy conditions, scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms forecast throughout the tournament week, the elements could further complicate the challenge. Wind, in particular, could become a significant factor, forcing the players to constantly adjust their shot selection and strategy as they negotiate the layout over four rounds. All that sets the stage for another wide-open title fight, with several players eager to make their move in the second half of the season. Chan remains one of the biggest names to watch as he continues his search for his breakthrough PGT victory. The young shotmaker, who already won an Asian Development Tour leg, will again be tested against a deep field that includes Russell Bautista, Dino Villanueva, Elee Bisera, Nilo Salahog and Arnold Villacencio, along with foreign contenders Collin Wheeler, Ha Taewon, Kim Tae Soo, Lee Song and Jiseung Cheon. Fil-Am Ivan Yabut also hopes to turn around a string of disappointing results and finally make a serious run at the championship after struggling to impose his game on the country’s demanding layouts. Former leg winners Jay Bayron, Mars Pucay, Gerald Rosales, Jerson Balasabas, Ira Alido and Michael Bibat are likewise looking to rediscover the form that once made them regular title threats on the circuit. The younger generation will also be out to make its presence felt, led by Gab Manotoc, Kristoffer Arevalo, Josh Jorge, Jonas Magcalayo and Leandro Bagtas. All five have shown flashes of potential and will be eager to get into contention early and sustain the pressure as the week progresses. But much of the attention will inevitably center on Que. At 47, the veteran remains as hungry as ever, and his recent results suggest that his competitive fire has hardly dimmed. A three-time Asian Tour winner, Que captured the Caliraya Springs leg in dramatic fashion, edging Lascuña by one stroke before following it up with another impressive victory at Summit Point, where he beat Chan by two. Those triumphs have placed Que firmly in the spotlight as he goes after a third victory of the season – and another strong push toward retaining the Order of Merit crown. More than anything, however, Que’s recent run has underscored the depth of his experience and his ability to adapt, qualities that could prove invaluable on a Marapara course where patience and precision are likely to be just as important as power. For Zaragosa, the challenge is to keep his winning streak alive against a field that has become considerably stronger with the return of Que, Chan and Mondilla. For the rest, it is an opportunity to seize the momentum as the PGT enters the second half of its 10-leg campaign. And with the wind expected to swirl, rain potentially altering conditions and a loaded field ready to pounce, the Negros Occidental Classic could once again come down to who can best keep his game – and nerves – under control when the pressure mounts. TMT

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino wushu artist Agatha Wong failed to make the podium in what she said was her "last" Asian Games campaign at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall in Japan Sunday. A 2018 bronze medalist in the 18th edition of the meet in Indonesia, Wong finished 10th in this 20th edition in the women's s taijiquan and taijijian final where she scored a total of 18.859 points. Wong said she will continue training for future competitions, but didn't give assurance whether or not she will see action in next year's Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia. A med-school student, the 28-year-old Wong is a 6-time SEA Games gold medalist.

NAGOYA, Japan — Warnings of a typhoon partly explained why the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya took place in front of thousands of empty seats, organisers said Sunday. Saturday's gala at the 30,000-capacity stadium officially launched the continent's premier sporting event, with Japan's emperor and empress in attendance. Fireworks brought the show to a rousing conclusion, but while parts of the arena were full, others were noticeably devoid of people. Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam said they had to keep one block empty because of the Games flame. "This is one part," he told reporters, adding that more than 70 percent of tickets were sold. That contrasted with an announcement at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium that said the ceremony was sold out. "But maybe if you remember, it was a typhoon warning coming to Nagoya and at the last minute the typhoon shifted," Al-Musallam added. "So the same question I've been asked, what happens if the typhoon is coming? That could affect the situation." There was no rain during the ceremony and the storm, having days earlier shaped as a potential threat to the Games, made a greater impact in the Tokyo region. There was heavy rain there on Sunday, where some Games events are being hosted -- notably the swimming -- with possible wet weather forecast for Nagoya later Sunday and Monday.

NAGOYA, Japan — IOC president Kirsty Coventry called the shipping container-style huts for Asian Games athletes "beautiful" on Sunday -- but conceded they were "a little tighter" than similar accommodation at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Asia's biggest sporting spectacle, which opened on Saturday in the Japanese city of Nagoya, has split with past Games by having no traditional athletes' village. To save costs, the more than 17,000 Asian Games participants will stay in temporary huts, hotels and a cruise ship. Some countries have criticised the wooden cabins as too small, with beds that are too short. But after touring the lodgings, International Olympic Committee president Coventry said she could not understand the negativity. "We had similar cabins in Milan-Cortina (Winter Games this year) and the athletes were very happy. And the cabins here are really nice," said the Zimbabwean former Olympic champion swimmer. "They're a little tighter. So, you know, if you want something negative, it's a little smaller. "But I don't think it's a negative thing. I love the village." About 2,000 participants are staying in the lodgings by the water in Nagoya. Coventry said: "The cabins are quiet, they're very cool. The air conditioning is working well. "The flooring and the walls are beautiful. It's better than some of the villages I've stayed in. "So I think to be very fair to Japan and to the organising committee, I was really impressed. "I had only been reading everything that had been said. And I was expecting something completely different to when I walked in." Asked by AFP if she would happily see the temporary cabins and also a cruise ship serve as accommodation at the Olympics, she said she had not been to the vessel. But she pointed to the accommodation at Milan-Cortina, and said those "very closely" resembled the ones in Nagoya. "It's not a new concept," she added. "And it is a concept that I think, for me, when we talk about an athlete experience, being an athlete... as soon as I go in, I'm not necessarily concerned about the look."

MANILA, Philippines – Edgie Arances and Anisha Caluya turned in standout performances to claim top honors in the Filipino Elite Category of the Damosa Land 5150 Triathlon on Sunday, emerging as the leading Filipino performers in the demanding Olympic-distance race here in Davao del Norte. Arances was particularly dominant, combining a strong swim, blistering bike leg and steady run to capture the Filipino Elite crown in two hours, 13 minutes and five seconds, beating Al-Rasheim Saggap (2:13:58) and Earl James Ting (2:22:57). The seasoned endurance campaigner, who has gained valuable experience from competing in major local and international races, completed the 1.5-km swim in 24:01, powered through the 40-km bike leg in 1:05:49, then closed out the 10-km run in 40:34. His performance underscored the combination of power, speed and stamina that has made him one of the country’s rising endurance talents. Caluya likewise lived up to the pre-race expectations, ruling the women’s Filipino Elite field in 2:29:19 after a balanced effort of 23:34 in the swim, 1:17:35 on the bike and 45:37 in the run. Her victory was another strong statement following her gold-medal performance in the Sprint Junior Elite Women’s category of the 2026 national age group aquathlon, showing that she could carry her speed and confidence into the longer Olympic-distance format. Also making their mark were James Van Ramoga and Natalie Doromal-Lim, who topped their respective age groups and claimed overall championships in their categories. Van Ramoga was the first age-group finisher overall in men’s division, clocking 2:22:44 on splits of 25:56 in the swim, 1:09:24 on the bike and 44:46 in the run. He bested Xak Tupas, Jr. (2:31:38) and Gio Juaneza (2:35:06). Doromal-Lim, meanwhile, successfully defended her title in the women’s side, posting 2:43:58 to finish first among the female age-group contenders and complete back-to-back victories in Samal after also ruling the category last year. She had split times of 29:57-1:15:54-54:01, dominating Annabelle Torres (2:49:43) and Althaea Benignos (3:30:47). The race opened under overcast skies and finished in humid midday conditions, with cloud cover shielding the athletes from the full heat of the sun. The manageable conditions nevertheless did little to ease the demands of a course that tested the field across three disciplines. Arances and Caluya stood out in a deep field of competitors in the second staging of the Damosa Land 5150, reinforcing Samal Island’s growing reputation as an emerging hub for triathlon and endurance racing in the Philippines. The Filipino Elite Category forms part of the Philippine Sports Commission’s continuing effort to strengthen the country’s high-performance sports program, while major competitions such as the Damosa Land 5150 also provide a platform to promote national pride and sports tourism. Organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., the second Damosa Land 5150, supported and hosted by Cary Lagdameo, president of Damosa Land, and Samal Mayor Lemuel Reyes, also brought down the curtain on the inaugural four-leg 5150 Triathlon Islands of the Philippines Series, which has taken elite-level racing to some of the country’s most scenic sporting destinations, including Guimaras, Camiguin and Bohol. The series is designed to provide qualified high-performance athletes–including past and current national team members – with a demanding competitive environment that bridges emerging local talent and the rigors of international racing. The series also forms a central pillar of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Council’s program to position the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class sporting events. With its smooth highways, white-sand beaches and vibrant local backing, Samal is poised to deliver a fitting finale to what had been a landmark inaugural circuit supported by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). The inaugural Damosa Land 5150 helped establish the Samal race as a fixture on the Philippine triathlon calendar, and this year’s edition further highlighted the depth of emerging Filipino talent. The performances of Arances, Caluya, Van Ramoga and Doromal-Lim capped a showcase of endurance racing that blended elite competition, emerging Filipino talent and the scenic appeal of Samal Island. TMT

The Gilas Pilipinas Women have already secured a quarterfinals berth in the 2026 Asian Games after a dominant 90-73 win over Hong Kong early Sunday in Nagoya.

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Olympic boxer Eumir Marcial will sit out the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, despite coming off a dominant third-round knockout victory against American Omar Huerta in San Diego, California. Following a joint decision with the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP), Marcial agreed to forgo his Asiad campaign to avoid a grueling travel schedule and rapid transition back to amateur competition. ABAP president Marcus Jarwin Manalo explained that the tight timeline posed significant health risks for the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games silver medalist. "I spoke to Eumir right after winning his professional fight earlier. After carefully considering the situation, Eumir and I agreed that it would be better to skip the Asian Games," said Manalo. "It would be very hard for him to immediately transition from a professional fight in the US, into long-distance travel to Nagoya with a 16-hour time difference, and then into another high-level boxing competition with such a short recovery period." "Boxing is a physically demanding and inherently risky sport, and adequate time to rest and recover is extremely important. We do not want to compromise Eumir’s health and safety because of the tight timeline," Manalo added, noting that Marcial will instead focus on representing the Philippines at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in December. The decision came shortly after Marcial’s impressive middleweight performance at the Pechanga Arena. The undefeated Filipino pugilist unleashed a sharp right counter hook at the 1:54 mark of the third round, sending Huerta to the canvas. Huerta failed to beat the referee's 10-second count, handing Marcial his fifth knockout and improving his professional record to 8-0. Huerta dropped to 15-2-1 following his second consecutive loss. "We sincerely hope for understanding that this decision was made with Eumir’s best interests in mind. His commitment to Philippine boxing and to representing the country has never been in question," Manalo stressed.

MANILA, Philippines — Eumir Marcial scored a third-round knockout victory against Omar Huerta in their middleweight bout at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California Sunday morning in Manila. The Filipino Olympic boxer unleashed a right counter hook to send the American pug to the canvas at the 1:54 mark of the third round. Huerta could not beat the 10-second count as the official declared the fight finished. Marcial thus stayed undefeated in the professional ranks with an 8-0 card laced with five knockouts. On the other hand, Huerta suffered a second straight defeat to fall to 15-2-1.

Eumir Marcial will miss the 2026 Asian Games, according to Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines president Marcus Manalo.

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