Sports

Djokovic downs de Minaur to storm into Australian Open q’finals

ISTANBUL – Novak Djokovic powered into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with a straight-set win over Alex de Minaur on Monday.The Serbian star made light work of the Australian 24th seed, wrapping up a 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory at the Rod Laver Arena in just over two hours.“I cannot... Read More

Toyota becomes PH major sponsor for FIBA WC

MANILA – Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP) has assured its full support to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' (SBP) hosting of the FIBA World Cup by becoming a major local sponsor.Toyota and SBP recently made the partnership formal even as the automotive company expressed its intent to help... Read More

Al Nassr beat Al Ittihad 1-0 in Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut

ANKARA – Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut game for Al Nassr ended in a 1-0 win over Al Ittihad on Sunday.Former Besiktas attacker Anderson Talisca scored the winning goal for the hosts in the 31st minute at Mrsool Park in Riyadh."It’s all about the beginning," the club wrote on Twitter... Read More

Meralco wins PBA Governors' Cup opener

MANILA — Meralco dominated the second half to defeat Rain Or Shine, 105-87, at the start of the PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.The Bolts held the Elasto Painters to only 33 points in the final 24 minutes of action to pull away for good.KJ McDaniels led... Read More

Imus AJAA beat Sta. Rosa in Spikers' Turf debut

MANILA – Louie Ramirez scored 17 points as the Imus AJAA Spikers outplayed the Sta. Rosa Lions, 25-22, 28-26, 29-31, 25-16, to begin its campaign in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at Paco Arena on Sunday night.Kim Malabunga, a former member of the VNS Volleyball Club, had 14 points... Read More

PH to send 14 athletes to Asian Lawn Bowls Championships

MANILA - Fourteen Philippine athletes will join the 14th Asian Lawn Bowls Championship in Malaysia next month.The tournament will be held from Feb. 20 to 26 at the Arena Lawn Bowls in Ipoh, the capital of Perak state.Rodel Labayo, men's pair gold medalist at the 2019 Manila SEA Games, will lead the... Read More

Santa Rosa faces Imus City in Spikers' Turf opener

MANILA – Santa Rosa City Lions will take on Imus City as the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference unfolds Sunday at Paco Arena in Manila.The Santa Rosa Lions are hoping to improve on their fifth-place finish last year, signing up former VNS players Uriel Mendoza and Kevin Montemayor."We played... Read More

Gallent replaces Austria as SMB coach

MANILA – Jorge Gallent has been named the new head coach of San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).Team manager Gee Abanilla confirmed on Saturday that Gallent has replaced Austria as the team's chief tactician ahead of the PBA Governors' Cup, which starts... Read More

CDO chess tourney mix of old champs, rising stars

MANILA – FIDE Master Ellan Asuela keeps a positive attitude as he takes on tough foes at the Rodriguez Chess tournament in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO), Misamis Oriental on Jan. 28 and 29.The tournament will be Asuela's first after winning the Kasparov Chess Foundation Asia-Pacific Absolute... Read More

Brownlee, 3 Ginebra aces lead PH pool for World Cup qualifiers

MANILA – Newly naturalized Justin Brownlee is set to make his national team debut in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers February windowThe Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) unveiled on Friday the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the Feb. 24 and 27 games against Lebanon and Jordan, respectively, at the... Read More

Pagcor remits P256M to PH Sports Commission

MANILA – Athletes preparing for the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games need not worry about their training after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) received PHP256.38 million from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) on Thursday.The amount represents Pagcor's mandated... Read More

Gilas yet to call up PBA players for WCQ: Marcial

MANILA – Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Willie Marcial on Thursday said nothing has been cast in stone yet as to which players will be called up for Gilas Pilipinas to the February window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.Marcial said he has yet to discuss matters with... Read More

La Salle names Topex Robinson as head coach

MANILA – "Faith, service, communion."Topex Robinson simply uttered La Salle's core principles in a tweet, moments after the university announced his appointment as its new men's basketball coach.On Thursday, the Green Archers ended weeks of speculation after confirming Robinson's appointment... Read More

POC, PSC discuss Cambodia SEA Games preps

MANILA – The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) met for the first time this year on Jan. 18 with the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games on top of the agenda.“It was a fellowship and working dinner meeting that delved more on the training of the SEA... Read More

Saudi tycoon pays $2.6M to see Ronaldo, Messi in Riyadh

ANKARA – A Saudi business tycoon has won an auction charity ticket for 10 million riyals (USD2.66 million) for a friendly match between football superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in Riyadh, an official said.A so-called "ticket beyond imagination" to attend the friendly match... Read More

Alan Cayetano reelected volley federation chairman emeritus

MANILA – The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has once again named Senator Alan Cayetano as its chairman emeritus.Cayetano, the federation's first chairman emeritus, was given a fresh mandate during the organization's elections on Tuesday in Taguig City.Cayetano's new tenure... Read More

Chua traded to TNT; Pascual, Lim reunite at NLEX

MANILA – The PBA trade committee approved a three-team trade involving TNT, NLEX and Phoenix on Wednesday.The trade saw Justin Chua going back with the Tropang Giga after nearly six years.Chua and Paul Varilla were sent to TNT, while NLEX got Jake Pascual and Sean Anthony from Phoenix in... Read More

Defending champion Nadal suffers early exit from Australian Open

ANKARA – Defending champion Rafael Nadal was eliminated from the 2023 Australian Open in the second round on Wednesday, an early exit for the Spanish tennis superstar.Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion in men's singles and the 2022 Australian Open winner, lost to his US opponent Mackenzie... Read More

53rd WNCAA kicks off Jan. 21 with volleyball competition

MANILA – The 53rd edition of the Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) will kick off on Jan. 21 with the volleyball competition at the St. Cecilia Hall in St. Scholastica's College Manila.St. Scholastica’s College Manila will face Saint Jude Catholic School at 1 p.m.... Read More

Golden State Warriors return to White House as NBA champs

WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden welcomed the Golden State Warriors to the White House on Tuesday to celebrate their 2022 NBA Championship.It marked their first visit to the White House since winning the 2015 title, as they avoided doing so during Donald Trump’s years in office due to... Read More