Guardians, White Sox on verge of making postseason

Việt Nam take one silver and five bronzes in wushu, rowing and esports in the fifth day of activities at the Japan Asian Games.

Olympics, World Championships, and Southeast Asian Games -- Carlos Yulo has won gold medals in all three competitions, and on Thursday, he completed his collection with an Asian Games gold.

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament Letran def. EAC (91-80) Justin Cargo Player of the Game #NCAASeason102

Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3 pulled away to carve out a 22-12 win over Singapore in the 2026 Asian Games 3x3 women's basketball quarterfinals on Thursday.

Defending PBA Governors’ Cup champion TNT tapped Nick Hornsby as its new import to take the spot of Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson as the team prepares for the resumption of the tournament this October. The Tropang 5G made their official announcement on their social media accounts Thursday. “Bagong Tropa. Bagong armas. Meet the newest addition sa TNT Tropang 5G. Ready to make his mark,” the team posted. “Welcome KaTropa Nick!” The 31-year-old American is seen as a stand-in import with original choice, three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury he sustained last December. He suffered the Achilles injury while playing for the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League Season 3 home-and-away tournament last December. TNT team manager Jojo Lastimsosa said they don’t want to rush Hollis-Jefferson’s return. “We want to make sure Rondae is fully ready before we put him back on the court. He needs more game simulations and we don’t want to rush his return. We want him as close as 100 percent as possible,” TNT said in a statement. Hornsby is coming off a recent stint with the Edmonton Stingers  in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Hollis-Jefferson, the left-handed American-Jordanian known by his initials RHJ, actually rejoined the team’s practice several weeks back, suiting up for the multi-titled PBA squad during a friendly match against the Jordanian national team, which used it to prepare for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. TNT though elected to bring Hornsby, more likely to give the do-it-all Hollis-Jefferson more time to get himself back into shape. His brother Rahlir lasted just four games since replacing Darius Day. Rahlir averaged 22.8 points, 12 rebounds and over four assists, where TNT limped to an even 4-4 record, behind the 7-3 cards of NLEX and San Miguel Beer, as well as Converge (5-4) in the Governors’ Cup. The tournament is currently on a break to give way to Gilas’ international tournaments. TNT hopes to secure a win when the tournament restarts on Oct. 7 as the Tropang 5G battles Terrafirma.

San Beda University defeated Lyceum of the Philippines University, 83-74, in the NCAA Season 102 men"s basketball tournament on Thursday.

MANILA, Philippines — The Gilas Pilipinas women’s national basketball team absorbed an 83-71 setback against Chinese Taipei, ending its 2026 Asian Games campaign on Thursday at the Aichi International Arena. The loss prevented the Philippines to make the semifinal round for the first time in the Asian Games. This result was similar to the 2022 Games in Hangzhou, China where Team Philippines lost to South Korea in the quarterfinals by 22 points. Veteran Afril Bernardino led the scoring for Gilas Pilipinas with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Janine Pontejos and Stefanie Berberabe added 12 markers each. The team played without key players Jack Animam and Kacey Dela Rosa in the tournament.

Kai Sotto will be returning for another season in Japan after signing with new team Altiri Chiba. The Chiba squad welcomed the 7-foot-3 Sotto through its official announcement on its website on Thursday. “I'm looking forward to joining the club Altiri Chiba. I'm very excited to meet the team, Coach Andrej [Lemanis], the staff, my teammates, and the fans!” Sotto said in a statement posted on the Chiba website.  Sotto was coming off a stint with the Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B.League 2025-26 season, where he averaged 13.1 points and 9.4 rebounds, as he made a successful return from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury on his knee. The left-handed Filipino is fresh off a return stint with Gilas Pilipinas, where he averaged 15.5 points, 15 rebounds and 2.0 asssists as the Philippines scored a two-game home sweep against Jordan and Iran in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers fourth window in Manila. Sotto will be making his much-debut with Chiba on Oct. 3 against the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, with the Japanese squad hoping to improve on its 19-win effort from the previous season. “I'll do everything I can to help this team win and achieve great things this season,” he added. Altiri CEO and representative Yoshihide Niwa  welcomed Sotto to the team. “He is a big man who combines imposing 220cm stature with a soft touch around the rim and the passing vision to bring his teammates into the game,” the Japanese team official said in a statement.

Carlos Yulo won the Philippines" first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after ruling the men"s floor exercise final on Thursday in Japan.

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion San Beda University defeated Lyceum of the Philippines University, 83-74, for its first win in Group A of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament Thursday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Following their opening day blues against College of Saint Benilde, the San Beda Red Lions were supposed to clash against the 2026 FilOil-EcoOil pre-season champions Jose Rizal University on Friday. However, the game was postponed because the arena was deemed “too moist” to play. Thus, San Beda returned to action after a week and a half.  The Red Lions were led by Lawrence Hawkins who finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals. Dan Marcelo chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds while Jimuel Reyes and Jomel Puno added 15 and 11 points, respectively for San Beda. San Beda raised its win-loss record to 1-1 while Lyceum Pirates dropped to 1-2. Matthew Rubico led Lyceum with 15 points and five assist, three rebounds, and two steals. Mclaude Guadana and Renz Villegas added 14 and 12 points, respectively. San Beda, meanwhile, will have little time to rest as the Red Lions take on the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Saturday at the same venue.

MANILA, Philippines – Thai Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong unleashed a blistering nine-under 63 Thursday to seize a two-stroke lead, while Yvon Bisera faltered on the closing stretch and slipped seven shots off the pace after 36 holes of the Kenda Tires TLPGA Open at the Taichung International Golf Club in Taiwan. Santiwiwatthanaphong piled up nine birdies against no bogeys for an 11-under 133 total, leap-frogging from joint 17th into a commanding position in the NT$4-million championship co-sanctioned by the Taiwan LPGA Tour and the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. Local standout You Chiang Hou, who shared the first-round lead, stayed within striking distance with a 68 for 135, while South Korea’s Seulgi Jeong matched Santiwiwatthanaphong’s fireworks for most of the day, firing a 65 to join Hou at two strokes behind. Bisera, meanwhile, appeared poised to remain firmly in the hunt after following her opening 67 with a steady start to her second round. The ICTSI-backed Filipina stayed on course for her projected nine-under target, overcoming an early setback on No. 3 with three birdies that put her at seven-under for the tournament with nine holes remaining. But her challenge unraveled on the back nine. After five consecutive pars, Bisera’s round unraveled on the par-4 15th when she missed the fairway and compounded the error with a three-putt, resulting in a double bogey. She failed to regain her momentum on the closing hole, dropping another stroke to finish with a 73. Reflecting on the costly stretch, Bisera said the trouble began with an errant drive on No. 15, leaving her with little choice but to play out and then three-putt. “Kumaliwa yung drive ko, so nag-play-out lang ako tapos three-putts. Sa No. 18 naman, na-hit ko yung drive ko sa hazard kaya hindi ko na-save yung par,” she said. The one-over card sent Bisera tumbling from a share of third to joint 16th at four-under 140, leaving her seven shots behind leader Santiwiwatthanaphong with 18 holes remaining. Bisera acknowledged that while her driving was generally solid for most of the round, her putting let her down, particularly in the closing stretch. “Except sa closing holes, hindi naman masyadong masama yung driving ko. Pero sobrang pangit talaga ng putting ko today – 32 putts,” she rued. With her title hopes taking a hit, Bisera knows she will need a strong final round to get back into contention. Still, she remained upbeat and focused on making the most of her last 18 holes. “Gusto kong mag-under ulit tomorrow, since hindi ko nagawa today. Gusto kong bumawi bukas at sana gumana na yung putting ko,” said Bisera. Sarah Ababa recovered with a 70 but remained well back at 141, good for a share of 20th. Seoyun Kim carded a 73 for 144 and joint 34th, while Mafy Singson also shot 73 to sit at 145 in a tie for 37th. Jiwon Lee matched par 72 and moved to 146 for joint 50th as only three Filipinas and two Koreans made it to the final round of the 16th leg of this year’s TLPGA. The rest of the 20-player LPGT contingent failed to advance to the final round. Kayla Nocum posted a 73 to finish at 147, Gretchen Villacencio finished at 148 after a 70, while LK Go and Kristine Fleetwood both ended at the same mark after rounds of 73. Rev Alcantara also finished at 148 after a 75. Velinda Castil carded a 69 but wound up at 149, joined by Harmie Constantino, who shot 74, and amateur Lisa Sarines, who returned a 75. Chihiro Ikeda finished at 150 after a 78, while Monica Mandario ended at 151 following a 73. Princess Superal also stood at 151 after a 74. Amateur Mona Sarines posted a 76 for 152, while amateur Isabella Tabanas finished at 157 after a 75. Marvi Monsalve closed with a 76 for 158, and Eunhua Nam struggled to a 79 for 160. With Santiwiwatthanaphong, who finished second in last week’s Thai Ladies Masters, which Bisera won last year, holding a two-shot cushion and the chasing pack led by Hou and Jeong, the final 18 holes are set up for a three-way battle at the top – while Bisera and the other surviving LPGT players will need low numbers to close the gap in the last round. TMT

Alexandra “Alex” Eala will begin her Singapore Tennis Open campaign on Thursday night against Tatiana Prozorova.