Philippine News

December 16 ------ Alex Eala wasted little time asserting her presence, rolling to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Shihomi Leong of Malaysia in the women’s singles quarterfinals of the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games in Nonthaburi. “I’m very happy with the first round, it presented challenges and happy with how [it went], wala masaya ako sa crowd, maraming nag-support, masaya ako sa suporta,” the WTA campaigner told the media after the game. With the win, Eala, who didn't see act

December 16 ------ RAIN or Shine banked on Jhonard Clarito’s fiery start and a sizzling shooting from three-point range to dominate Magnolia, 101-92, and claim the first twice-to-beat bonus in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals in Bahrain. Clarito finished with a game-high 21 points, 16 of them came in the first half, before the Elasto Painters sustained his effort by bombing the Hotshots from the outside behind Gian Mamuyac, Stanley Pringle, and Caelan Tiongson to preserve

BANGKOK, December 15 ------ Gilas Pilipinas Men went on a blistering run to close the second quarter to beat Malaysia 83-58 in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games basketball tournament at the Nimibutr Stadium. Ray Parks fueled a 20-0 run for Gilas Pilipinas to end the half up, 42-26, and claim the victory to start the campaign. Robert Bolick and Thirdy Ravena also made key shots to keep their lead. Gilas Pilipinas won even as the team also showed qualities of a hastily-assembled s

CHONBURI, Thailand, December 15 ------ For the first time in Southeast Asian Games history, the Philippines will play in the final of women’s football. The Filipinas accomplished the breakthrough feat after outlasting host Thailand, winning 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in a nail-biting semifinal clash at the Chonburi Daikin Stadium. Jael Marie Guy, Alessandrea Carpio, Sara Eggesvik, and Hali Long converted in succession in the penalty shootout while two Thais misfire

December 15 ------ CJ Cansino and Juan Gomez de Liano may have last crossed paths in the UAAP hardwood battles in 2019, but their competitive spark lit up the PBA. It was Cansino who came out on top in their first showdown in the pros. Churning out a career-high 29 points, including three triples, he spearheaded Meralco’s 105-84 dismantling of Converge at the Ynares Center, clinching the Bolts an outright quarterfinals slot in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup. Gomez de Liano

BANGKOK, December 15 ------ Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz missed out on the podium just as the Alas Pilipinas women’s team was relegated in the battle for bronze in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Diaz fell short of her supposed third SEA Games gold medal after finishing fourth in the women’s 58-kilogram event with a total lift of 200kg. Now 34, Diaz had her best lift in snatch at 90kg while she cleared 110 in the clean and jerk. She tried to go for 115kg, and the

December 14 ------ THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas welcomed the recent decision of FIBA to adjust the eligibility age for players who will represent their respective countries in international tournaments. In an approved amendments by the Central Board to the regulations for the national status of players, the world governing body for basketball now recognizes players as non-restricted for those who obtained passport before the age of 18 from 16. The resolution was made a

December 14 ------ AS she is preparing for the tennis tournament of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, Philippine tennis star Alex Eala made it to the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open. Currently ranked 52nd in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, Eala is among 105 women who will take part in the women’s singles main draw. The list consists of 102 of the world’s best women’s singles tennis players, along with three wild cards. Although Eala remained 50th in t

MANILA, Philippines, December 13 ------ The Abra Solid North Weavers climbed out of a deep hole to nip the Quezon Huskers, 81-80, in overtime and take Game 1 of the 747 Live presents Manny Pacquiao MPBL 2025 Season National Finals at the Gov. Andres Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra. Trailing 72-80 as Quezon opened the extension period with an eight-point run, Abra bunched nine points, five by Mike Ayonayon, to pull off the squeaker that lured an overflow crowd and w

HOUSTON, December 13 ------ Amen Thompson’s three-point play with 17.2 seconds left helped the Houston Rockets to a 115-113 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. Thompson tipped in Alperen Sengun’s miss to break a 110-110 tie, was fouled by Kris Dunn and hit the and-1 free throw. The putback came off Houston’s third offensive rebound of the possession and 21st of the night. Thompson made 8 of 12 from the field and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assi

BANGKOK, December 12 ------ The Philippines claimed three gold medals to take the fifth spot after Day 2 of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Gymnast Aleah Finnegan and jiu-jitsu fighters Kimberly Anne Custodio and Dean Roxas seized the gold medals, bringing the Philippines’ total to five, as of posting time. The Philippines has also registered seven silvers and 20 bronzes to overtake Malaysia, which has a 3-9-19 gold-silver-bronze tally. There was a missed opportun

LOS ANGELES, December 12 ------ It was a playoff-level atmosphere at Crypto.com Arena for the NBA Cup quarterfinals, but the San Antonio Spurs — still without Victor Wembanyama — walked in unfazed and walked out with a 132–119 upset win over the Lakers, securing their spot in Las Vegas to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals. The night started strong for Los Angeles, who jumped out to an 18–12 lead midway through the first behind Luka Dončić’s early rhythm. But th

December 12 ------ The Philippine women's national football team is headed to the semifinals of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. The Filipinas overpowered Malaysia, 6-0, in their final assignment of the group stage to punch their ticket to the knockout round at the IPE Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand. Rising star Alexa Pino starred for the Philippines, collecting a hat-trick, while Jessika Cowart, Ariana Markey, and Anicka Castaneda also found the back of the net. The F

December 12 ------ KAYLA Sanchez broke a Southeast Asian Games record in the women’s 50m backstroke, less than 24 hours after copping her first gold medal in the biennial competition in Thailand. Sanchez clocked 28.47 seconds in the heats on Thursday morning at the Sport Authority of Thailand Aquatics Center, erasing the previous mark of 28.89 seconds set by Masniari Wolf of Indonesia in 2023 in Cambodia. Incidentally, Wolf was also in the heats, and had the second best time

MANILA, December 11 ------ The Philippines secured its second gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand after its women’s swimming team won the 4x100 relay. The team, composed of Olympian Kayla Sanchez, Heather White, Chloe Isleta and Xiandi Chua clocked in 3:44.26, more than two seconds away from silver medalist Team Singapore and Team Vietnam, who took the bronze. Justin Kobe Macario delivered the first gold for the Philippines after topping the men’s individ

ANTIPOLO, December 11 ------ Meralco didn’t waste any time pulling away from Terrafirma and cruising to a 120-87 victory in its return to action in the PBA Philippine Cup. Chris Banchero sparked the Bolts’ early surge, scoring 10 of his 13 points right in the first quarter, while CJ Cansino announced his comeback from an ankle injury by pacing the team with 20 points and eight rebounds. The Bolts stretched an eight-point lead to 55-33 just before the halftime on their way to

TORONTO, December 11 ------ Jalen Brunson scored 35 points, Josh Hart added 21 and the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals for the first time in three tries by beating the struggling Toronto Raptors, 117-101. Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who will face Orlando in the semifinal round at Las Vegas on Saturday. The Magic reached the semifinals by beating Miami earlier Tuesday. Towns returned after sitting out Sunday’s home win ov

MIAMI, Florida, December 11 ------ Lionel Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player (MLS MVP) award after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals. Messi became the first player to win back-to-back MLS MVP awards and only the second player in the league to capture two MVP awards after Preki in 1997 and 2003. “I’m happy to receive this award and be the first in the history of this league to win it in two consecutiv

CHONBURI, Thailand, December 10 ------ It took more than three decades, but the Philippines is back in the final four of the Southeast Asian Games men’s football tournament. The Nationals returned to the semifinals for the first time since 1991 after a pulsating 1-0 win over Indonesia at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Otu Banatao scored just before the first half ended as the Philippines, which earned a 2-0 victory over Myanmar three days prior, comple

ABU DHABI, UAE, December 10 ------ McLaren’s Lando Norris sobbed tears of joy and relief as he won the Formula One championship for the first time and ended Max Verstappen’s four-year reign with a nervy third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull’s Verstappen, whose eighth triumph of the campaign was one more than the new champion managed, won the season-ender with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri runner-up and 12.5 seconds behind at the checkered flag. Norris, Britain’s 11th Fo