Nesthy Petecio falls to Chinese foe, exits Asian Games

Alex Eala got off to a rousing start in her 2026 Asian Games debut, ousting Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej, 6-1, 6-0, in their rain-delayed Round of 16 bout on Monday at the Indoor Court C of the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.

MANILA, Philippines — Two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio ended her podium bid in the 2026 Asian Games campaign after losing via unanimous decision over Chinese foe Chengyu Yang on Monday afternoon in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Petecio, the most-bemedalled Filipina boxer, initially gunning for a podium spot in this edition, as this is her third time competing in Asiad. She flexed her southpaw stance early in the opening frame and exchanged volume of punches against Yang. However, despite Petecio making a combination of an uppercut, a straight punch, and an overhand left, she received a one-point deduction that allowed the Chinese to earn the five nods from the judges. Yang was less aggressive in the second frame, and Petecio switched things up after starting with an orthodox stance. The Filipino pug had a clean right hook, but it was not enough to impress the judges. Petecio loaded up her punches in the final round, hoping to win via stoppage. The Chinese boxer was playing smartly and was not engaging in the first minute, despite Petecio scoring a left hook. However, Yang managed to stay alive in the final round. Petecio earned a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, followed by a bronze in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Philippines is assured of two more medals in the 2026 Asian Games after the sepak takraw team delivered a bronze medal in one event and advanced to the finals in another to hike the country's medal tally on Monday.

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine men's sepaktakraw regu team fell to Malaysia in the semifinals, 15-10, 11-15, 7-15, to settle for a bronze medal in the 20th Asian Games at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium in Japan on Monday. Captain Jason Huerte, Reynaldo Asilum Jr., Jom Lerry Rafael, Glindel Phori and Ronsited Gabayeron could not sustain their strong start as they lost steam especially in the third set. The Malaysian team were composed of captain Aidil Aiman Azwawi, Muhammad Aifuddin Mohd Razali, Muhammad Zulkfifli Abd Razak, Mohamad Azlan Alias, and Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi. A win against the Malaysians would have sent the Philippine men's team for a shot at gold like its women's counterparts.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women’s sepak takraw doubles team advanced to the gold medal match of the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Laos, 15-12, 15-10, in the semifinals. Composed of Jean Marie Sucalit, Abegail Sinogbuhan, and Nelly Jay Salon, the squad will face Vietnam in the finals on Sept. 29 as they aim to secure the country’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in the sport. Since sepak takraw was introduced to the Asian Games in 1990, the Philippines has yet to win gold in the discipline. The nation earned its first Asian Games medals in the sport at the 2022 Hangzhou Asiad (held in 2023), taking bronze in both the men’s regu and men’s quadrant events.

MANILA, Philippines — Despite barely warming his seat as president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), Frank Lao is taking full responsibility and accountability for the lack of financial support for the national athletes competing in the 20th Asian Games. In a statement on Monday, Lao issued a humble apology to the Alas Pilipinas men’s squad — particularly team captain Bryan Bagunas — following his revelations about the severe lack of federation backing heading into this prestigious continental showcase. Lao, a distinguished businessman and chairman of Strong Group Athletics, admitted that upon stepping into office last month, he inherited a depleted treasury burdened with roughly P25 million in liabilities and outstanding payables. Compounding the crisis, financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) remains frozen following the suspension and withdrawal of support by the International Volleyball Federation and the Philippine Olympic Committee last June — a fallout that effectively choked off the allowances of athletes preparing for the Asian Games. With that, Lao has begun digging into his own personal resources to settle federation debts, clear unpaid coaching salaries, and cover foreign travel expenses. In fact, before the Alas Pilipinas Men flew to Nagoya, he personally distributed P20,000 in pocket money to each player and shouldered the round-trip airfare for late addition Owa Retamar.    “As president of the PNVF, I take full accountability for what happened to the allowances of both Alas Pilipinas Men and Women squads as well as the beach volleyball teams,” said Lao, who stayed until the wee hours of Monday trying to figure out how to solve this financial crisis and stabilize the morale of the athletes competing in the Asian Games.  “After taking over the PNVF in the middle of August, we were left with nothing but more than P25 million in debt. We are now starting to pay all the coaches, settle travel trips, and clear other payables that the federation owes them.” The PNVF had been mired in toxic leadership disputes long before Lao secured the presidency during the August 10 special elections at the Solaire Theater Southlinks Boardroom.    Yet, rather than pointing fingers or making excuses, Lao is turning the page and calling on stakeholders to rally behind the athletes. “Ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya na nagkulang kami. Pero bigyan nyo kami ng pagkakataon na makabawi sa inyo,” Lao said, displaying a rare corporate humility in the face of an administrative mess created and left by his predecessors. “Just give me some time po. Sa akin ito bilang presidente ng PNVF. I take this responsibility. Sorry po.” TMT

MANILA, Philippines — The embattled Alas Pilipinas men’s national volleyball team put up a spirited fight against World No. 34 China, but ultimately fell in four sets, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21, in the preliminary round of the 2026 Asian Games on Monday at the Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The loss drops World No. 115 Philippines to a 0-2 record in Pool D, eliminating them from quarterfinal contention as only the top two teams from each pool advance. While Alas held an edge in attacks—outscoring China 42 to 31—unforced errors proved costly for the Filipinos. The national team gave away 28 total points, including 10 service errors, compared to China's disciplined nine total errors and just three service faults. Lacking height and financial backing compared to their top-tier opponents, Alas was led by team captain Bryan Bagunas, who tallied 15 points on 12 attacks and three aces. Leo Ordiales added 11 markers, while middle blocker Peng Taguibolos chipped in nine. Playmaker Owa Retamar dished out 12 excellent sets, while Joshua Magalaman and Marck Espejo contributed six and five points, respectively. China mounted a balanced offense to secure the win, led by Zihua Wen’s team-high 10 points. Yongzhen Li and Bin Wang added eight points apiece, supported by Yuantai Yu (6), Lei Li (4), and Chuan Jiang (2). Alas Pilipinas, which placed 13th in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, will seek its first victory of the tournament when it closes out pool play against World No. 55 Taiwan on Tuesday.

Alas Pilipinas Men put together another gallant stand but came up short, absorbing a 25-21, 25-20, 25-22 loss to powerhouse China in the 2026 Asian Games men"s volleyball tournament on Monday at Park Arena Komaki in Japan.

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

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Esports team Sibol snared a bronze medal in the 20th Asian Games Honor of Kings after falling to China in the semifinals, 0-2, at the at Aichi Sky Expo in Japan Monday. Golden Hart Dajao, Justine Ritchie Tan, Charles Roman Esguerra, Dragon Hart Dajao, Jhon Mike Tungol and Chammy Paul Nazarrea represented the Philippines in the event. Sibol thus took its second bronze after its Pokémon Unite team on Sunday.

MANILA, Philippines — Ernest John "EJ" Obiena seeks to retain his men's pole vault title and deliver the Philippines another gold medal in the 20th Asian Games in Japan on Tuesday. Expected to rule the continental meet anew, Obiena competes against 11 other pole vaulters at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium at 5:20 p.m. in Manila. This Asiad appears to be Obiena's last tournament for his season. "One more for this season," Obiena wrote on his social media pages on Monday. "Asian Games tomorrow at 18:20 local time," added the 6-foot-2 pole vaulter who owns the Asian record of 6.0m clearance.

MANILA, Philippines – With two of the last three Philippine Golf Tour legs decided by one stroke and the other by two, the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge is shaping up for another tense and unpredictable finish when the P2.5-million championship gets going Tuesday (Sept. 29) at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Iloilo. And if the depth of the field is any indication, identifying a clear favorite could prove as difficult as winning the title itself. A different champion could emerge yet again, adding another layer of intrigue to the seventh leg of the 10-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. The field brings together proven champions, seasoned campaigners and a crop of young contenders eager to disrupt the established order, making the outcome virtually impossible to call. The former Santa Barbara layout should provide a fitting stage for the battle, with hazards at every corner and a premium placed on precision and judgment from one hole to the next. At the par-70 course, where a single mistake can quickly erase a hard-earned advantage, one quality figures to be crucial throughout the four-day championship: course management. Each player, meanwhile, arrives with a different mission. Angelo Que is chasing a third victory of the season after ruling the Caliraya Springs and Summit Point legs. The veteran has already shown his ability to close out tournaments, but the depth of the Iloilo field leaves little room for complacency. “I’m just out here to have fun since, you know, I like this golf course. It’s a thinking course. At least nakapagpahinga ako nang kaunti. Nakauwi ako and then I rested before coming here, so hopefully I’m not as tired as I was last week,” said Que, the Summit Point leg winner who was still finding his form after a stint in Taiwan and finished tied for 12th in Negros Occidental last week. Art Arbole, on the other hand, returns with momentum and renewed belief after finally ending a 14-year wait for a championship. He led, stumbled and recovered to capture last week’s Negros Occidental Classic, holding off a host of veteran rivals before edging Jeffren Lumbo by one stroke. Zanieboy Gialon also has a special reason to feel confident on a course where he produced one of his most impressive victories. Two years ago, he turned what had been billed as a final-round shootout into a runaway six-shot triumph over Que and Ira Alido. After finishing fourth in Negros, Gialon now hopes to end a two-year winless stretch and reclaim the title at the country’s oldest golf course. Former Order of Merit winner Jhonnel Ababa, meanwhile, is seeking redemption after his late collapse in Negros. Ababa shared the first-round lead with Arbole, remained just one stroke behind after the next two rounds and then surged ahead early in the final round. But a costly backside meltdown, coupled with Arbole’s late charge, allowed the latter to regain control. Arbole eventually held his nerve to frustrate Lumbo, who was seeking a second career crown after outlasting Russell Bautista on the fifth extra hole in last year’s South Pacific Classic. But the list of players capable of breaking through does not end there. Clyde Mondilla, Tony Lascuña, Reymon Jaraula, Rupert Zaragosa, Jay Bayron and Guido van der Valk – all multi-titled campaigners still looking for their first victory of the season – add even more uncertainty to an already crowded title picture. “Medyo masikip talaga dito. Walang power advantage, at hindi talaga puwedeng atakihin ang greens. So, you have to play the position. Sa second shot, kailangan nasa harap ka lang palagi. Makapal din ang rough, kaya kailangan diretso ang palo mo off the tee,” said Mondilla. Asian Tour mainstay Justin Quiban also takes advantage of a break on the region’s premier circuit due to the Asian Games competitions in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He further strengthens the field while seeking his second PGT victory of the year after winning the season-opening Lakewood Championship in come-from-behind fashion last March. Then there are the hungry contenders – Dino Villanueva, Elee Bisera and Nilo Salahog – along with young guns Gab Manotoc, Ryan Monsalve, Kristoffer Arevalo, Leandro Bagtas, Josh Jorge and Jonas Magcalayo, plus Fil-Ams Ivan Yabut and Jeremy Tandoy. Any one of them could alter the complexion of the championship with one strong round. A slew of foreign bidders further complicates the equation, led by Kim Tae Soo, Lee Song, Miki Ryoma, Jisung Cheon, Hyun Jin Youn and Kim Tae Won. With so many players possessing the game and experience to contend – and with the recent legs decided by razor-thin margins – the Iloilo Championship could once again come down to the final few holes, or even the final shot. The only certainty heading into Tuesday’s opening round is that there are plenty of players capable of winning. And that could make for four days of relentless jostling for position, with the leaderboard likely to change hands repeatedly before the next champion is finally crowned. TMT