Philippine News

PARIS, France, December 22 ------ The winners of the 2026 World Cup will receive $50 million in prize money as part of a record financial contribution for the tournament from FIFA, world football's governing body announced. The total World Cup prize fund of $655 million (558.5 million euros) represents an increase of almost 50% from the $440 million distributed to teams taking part in the last tournament in Qatar in 2022. However, next year's World Cup—to be held in the Unite

December 22 ------ Jacob Cortez has been turning heads from his NCAA days when he anchored San Beda to a Season 99 crown up to his recent feat with De La Salle University in the UAAP. The second one was sentimental for the cat-quick guard. Winning the Season 88 title with the Green Archers was nothing short of spectacular for Cortez as he served the same school his father Mike had suited up before and won two championships with in the early 2000s. “It’s super special that the

BANGKOK, December 21 ------ Olympic medalist Kayla Sanchez made a stunning debut at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, capping her formidable performance with a haul of three gold and five silver medals in the swimming competition. Sanchez, who previously secured two Olympic medals for Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Games, expressed her pride in representing the Philippines this time around. “It’s very special. I love my teammates, my whole family is here, and I really hope I ma

MANILA, Philippines, December 21 ------ Four of the greatest pool players of all time will see action in the World Nineball Tour (WNT) Legends set for Jan. 22-24, 2026. Filipinos Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, American Earl “The Pearl” Strickland, and German Ralf “The Kaiser” Souquet will come together in the historic event designed to honor their legacy, rekindle iconic rivalries, and give fans an unforgettable look at the champions who helped ignite p

LOS ANGELES, United States, December 20 ------ Cooper Flagg scored 23 points as the Dallas Mavericks dug deep to upset the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, 116-114, in a bruising overtime battle. No. 1 draft pick Flagg excelled at both ends of the court to help the Mavs clinch a morale-boosting victory that sees them improve to 11-17 for the season. The 18-year-old Flagg finished with 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and three blocks on a night when six Mavs play

December 20 ------ Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing hanging up his gloves three months after a career-defining victory over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who dominated Mexican legend Alvarez in Las Vegas in September to claim the undisputed super middleweight crown, announced his decision in a video posted on social media. "I'm stepping away from competition, not because I'm done fightin

CHONBURI, Thailand, December 19 ------ Alex Eala claimed another piece of history before her stellar 2025 ended. Eala captured her first-ever Southeast Asian Games gold medal after reigning in the women’s singles following a 6-2, 6-1 win over Thai foe Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the final at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi. Living up to her billing as the highest-ranked WTA player in Southeast Asia, the world No. 53 Eala became the first Filipina to win the

PATTAYA, Thailand, December 19 ------ Gilas Pilipinas secured a place in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games men's basketball final, fending off Indonesia, 71-68 at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok. The Philippines overcame a late Indonesian rally that wiped out a 16-point deficit to seal a place in the final. Still, Gilas needed a tough stand in Indonesia's final possession that wound up as a missed three to pull off the victory. The Nationals will face either Thailand or Malaysia

PATTAYA, Thailand, December 19 ------ The Philippine Blu Boys regained supremacy in Southeast Asian Games men’s softball, beating Singapore, 3-0, for the gold at the Queen Sirikit Baseball Stadium in Pathum Thani. The Blu Boys beat the same team that dislodged them from the regional throne on their own field in 2019 in Clark. Prior to that, Filipinos claimed the crown in eight of the last nine editions. Lefty hurler Jehanz Maristela Coro fanned 17 batters in a two-hit shutout

MANILA, Philippines, December 19 ------ Nonito Donaire fell short in his bid to wrest the World Boxing Association bantamweight crown from Seiya Tsutsumi losing by split decision at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 43-year-old Donaire dominated the early rounds, but the younger Tsutsumi picked up the pace and clinched the last three rounds to earn the nod of two judges, 115-113 and 117-111. The third judge sided with the “Filipino Flash,” 116-112. Donaire, a four-divi

December 18 ------ In a historic clash with destiny, the Filipinas carved a new milestone in their legacy, dethroning the powerhouse that has long dominated the Southeast Asian Games podium.   After a grueling 120 minutes that ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team outlasted four-time defending champion Vietnam, winning 6-5 on penalties to claim the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games on Wednesday at Chonburi Stadium in Thailand.   This latest tr

MANILA, Philippines December 18 ------ For the second time in the last three UAAP seasons, the La Salle Green Archers are men’s basketball champions after again trouncing rival UP in a cardiac 80-72 Season 88 finals Game 3 win at the standing-room-only, 24,000-strong Araneta Coliseum crowd on Wednesday, December 17.   The youngest UAAP school by membership, La Salle now has 11 men’s basketball titles since its first in 1989, and now has three in the last eight years. Most imp

RAYONG, December 18 ------ As their brothers and sisters in arms were still gearing for the day’s grind, the gritty triathletes were already up and about, gamely taking the task of giving Team Philippines a sizzling start. With cold efficiency, the swim-bike-run aces swept up the three relay events played at Laem Mae Phim Beach to get the gold-mining business in Day 8 of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games off and running yesterday.   Six-time SEAG champion Kim Mangrobang, youth s

HONBURI, December 18 ------ Gilas Pilipinas will be facing Indonesia in the semifinals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball competitions on Thursday in Bangkok.   Indonesia routed Vietnam, 89-66, in Wednesday’s quarterfinals to set up a last four battle with the Filipino cagers at 2 p.m. local time (3 p.m. Philippine time) at Nimibutr Stadium.   It will be a rematch of the semifinal battle in 2023 when Gilas won in Cambodia. Of course, Indonesia famously stunned

BANGKOK, December 17 ------ EJ Obiena led the Philippines’ four-gold haul in Day 7 of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games but the contingent stayed at sixth place in overall medal tally. Another Paris Olympian Joanie Delgaco teamed up with Kristine Paraon for the gold in the women’s rowing double sculls, Zyra Bon-as captured the women’s 48kg low kick kickboxing title, and Jasmine Althea Ramilo seized the rhythmic gymnastics all-around crown. After winning half of output from last

December 17 ------ A MEDAL upgrade is guaranteed for Alex Eala. The WTA campaigner stormed into the women’s singles final of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Nonthaburi after dispatching Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo, 6-1, 6-4, to book a place in the gold-medal match. Still in Eala’s way to the gold is another home bet in Mananchaya Sawangkaew, the world no. 240, who advanced via walkover after Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, the WTA No. 53, retired midway through their semifinal due

December 17 ------ DAVE Ildefonso showed why he's the MVP leading the Abra Solid North Weavers past the Quezon Huskers, 94-85, in overtime and a sweep of the MPBL 2025 Season Finals at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City. Just hours after being awarded the league's highest individual honor, Ildefonso pumped in seven points in a closing 15-5 run that gave the Weavers a 3-0 sweep of the Huskers in the best-of-five championship series. Pasay handed Abra its lone loss, 70

BOSTON, December 17 ------ Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 10 rebounds to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics, 112-105. Caris LeVert and Tobias Harris each added 13 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who won their fourth straight. Detroit also got even for a frustrating loss in Boston late last month. Jaylen Brown had 34 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Celtics. Derrick White scored 31 points as Boston lost its second straigh

PATTAYA, Thailand, December 16 ------ The Philippines produced eight gold medals, the most by-far for a day to continue its nip and tuck race with Malaysia in the middle of the overall standings of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. The PH contingent switched places with Malaysia throughout Day 6 of competition before ending up at sixth place with 25 golds, 38 silvers, and 80 bronzes. Malaysia is in fifth with 26-28-80. Four gold medals came from the practical shooting team with

CHONBURI, Thailand, December 16 ------ Gilas Pilipinas completed another come-from-behind victory to earn an outright spot in the semifinals of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. Seeking a 20th men’s basketball gold medal in the regional showdown, the Philippines moved within two wins of that goal after turning back Vietnam, 78-67, at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok. Robert Bolick poured 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and added 6 rebounds and 4 assists as the defendin