NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament   JRU def. EAC 84-74 Chris Hubilla Player of the game #NCAASeason102

Kyrie Irving waited nearly 600 days for his return to the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks didn’t keep him waiting any longer for his welcome-back basket. Irving got a reverse layup on the game’s opening possession Sunday night, setting the tone for him scoring a team-high 17 points in the Mavericks’ 132-115 preseason win over the

Reinhard Jumamoy"s clutch heroics and Kacey Dela Rosa"s back-to-back double-doubles earned them the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Press Corps Players of the Week honors for October 8-12, 2026.

Alexandra “Alex” Eala continues her Asian swing in China as she competes in the WTA1000 Wuhan Open.

Mapua University weathered Colegio de San Juan de Letran's comeback bid after surrendering a 15-point lead before grinding out a 69-67 overtime victory in NCAA Season 102 on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

MANILA, Philippines — Mapua University refused to back down from the fight and outlasted Colegio de San Juan de Letran in overtime to notch its fourth consecutive victory, 69-67, in the  NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Monday afternoon, Oct. 12, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Mapua held a 53-38 advantage with 4:23 left in the third, but Letran’s Chad Gammad hit back-to-back threes, and Nathaniel Montecillo added another to make it 53-46. Justine Cargo and Kevin Santos closed the gap further as the period ended 53-50. Gammad tied it at 53-all with another triple to open the fourth, but Jamal Diaz answered with a two-pointer and free throw for a 56-53 Cardinals lead. After Yam Concepcion and Santos traded buckets, Cargo’s layup put the Knights ahead 59-58. Justine Hugo made it 61-58 with 56.2 seconds left, but Lazarte’s and-1 forced overtime at 61-all. The Cardinals took control in overtime with Marcus Nitura and Lance Nitura chipping in their forces, ending the regulation with a 69-67 victory. Yam Concepcion, Lance Nitura, Marc Cuenco, Marcus Nitura, Jamal Diaz, and Ivan Lazarte all scored identically with 11 points. Letran was led by Chad Gammad, who made 18 markers. Mapua and Letran both have a 4-3 win-loss record in the tournament.

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament     Mapua def. Letran 69-67  Lance Nitura  Player of the game #NCAASeason102

MANILA, Philippines – Yvon Bisera turned a shaky start into an impressive surge, unleashing a blistering back-nine charge capped by three straight birdies from No. 15 to shoot a four-under 68 and seize a commanding four-shot lead in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship on Monday. After stumbling with bogeys on Nos. 2 and 5 while struggling to find her touch with the irons, the Davaoeña ace regrouped in impressive fashion, stringing together six birdies to emerge from the opening round with a big cushion in the 54-hole, P1.25-million championship at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club here. Her scorching finish proved a stark contrast to the struggles of her rivals, many of whom faltered under the punishing heat and the course’s demanding layout. Reigning Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Sarah Ababa emerged as Bisera’s closest pursuer with a 72, but even she could not escape the day’s challenges, mixing three birdies with three bogeys to settle four strokes behind. Tiffany Lee and Velinda Castil carded 73s, while Martina Miñoza and Daniella Uy stumbled to 74s. Princess Superal and amateur sister Ace Superal turned in 76s, while Rev Alcantara and Angela Mangana limped home with 77s as the heat and the course took their toll on the early contenders. Bisera, however, refused to let her early miscues dictate her round. Despite a late start under sweltering conditions, she steadied herself with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 before taking charge on the back nine, where four more birdies transformed a tentative start into a commanding performance. Reflecting on the contrasting fortunes of her opening nine, Bisera said her driving remained solid even as her iron play let her down on two early holes. “My driving was good, but my irons weren’t sharp on the front nine, and I missed two greens,” said Bisera in Filipino, who nevertheless managed to recover before the turn and put herself in position for a decisive back-nine assault. The late start also meant playing through the day’s intense heat, making her recovery all the more impressive. Bisera said conditions became more manageable as the round progressed. “It was extremely hot when we started late, but the temperature eased a little on the back nine,” she said. Bisera began to find her rhythm on the par-5 seventh, then capitalized on a solid approach from 95 yards to set up a tap-in birdie on No. 9. From there, she took control, capping her charge with three consecutive birdies from No. 15 and leaving herself virtually unscathed over her final 13 holes. The 68 further bolstered the confidence of the two-time winner this year, who triumphed in a playoff at Lakewood and scored a runaway victory at Pradera Verde before placing ninth in a recent Taiwan LPGA tournament co-sanctioned by the LPGT. Coming off that international campaign, Bisera said the experience had strengthened her belief in her game and helped her carry positive momentum into the LPGT stop, which has returned to Pueblo de Oro after a lengthy absence. “My confidence is high after the way I played in Taiwan,” said Bisera, who also expressed her appreciation for the course’s playing conditions, particularly its greens. Bisera praised the layout but noted that its long par-3s and demanding finishing hole would require precision throughout the tournament. “The course is in good shape, and the greens are nice, although the par-3s are quite long,” she said. “The 18th is also one of the toughest holes because trouble is waiting almost everywhere, especially around the green.” Despite her imposing first-round advantage, Bisera knows that maintaining her form will be crucial as she pursues another victory and strengthens her bid for a maiden LPGT Order of Merit crown. “I need to be sharper with my driving and irons, and I have to keep putting well,” she said. Her rivals, meanwhile, face the challenge of mounting a strong comeback while hoping Bisera loses some of the momentum that carried her to the top of the leaderboard. Gretchen Villacencio briefly seized control after turning in a two-under backside 35, taking advantage of the early struggles of the fancied contenders in the heat. But her charge fizzled on the way home as she limped to a front-nine 43 to finish with a 78, ending the day in a share of 11th with Monica Mandario and amateur Isabella Tabanas. TMT

After three switches, TNT is finally activating its resident import in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala faces Chinese qualifier Shi Han to begin her campaign in the Wuhan Open round of 64 in China. The match is scheduled Monday night, tentatively set at 8:40 p.m. at Dongfeng-Voyah Center Court. Eala is seeded 13th in the WTA 1000 hardcourt tournament, which marks her return on tour after an early

MANILA, Philippines — Import Jordan Murphy’s first-ever "Manila Clasico" experience didn’t go as planned on Sunday night. Just two games into his PBA stint, the American reinforcement struggled against Magnolia’s physical defense as Barangay Ginebra suffered a 112-93 beating in their second face-off in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. “Yeah, they’re physical, [and] they scout well and they are well-coached,” Murphy said in a post-game chat with sportswriters. The Puerto Rican forward got off to a hot start, scoring 11 points early on, though the Hotshots still managed to erect an early 34-19 lead. Magnolia subsequently tightened its defense, holding the former Minnesota Gopher to just seven points the rest of the way as the LA Tenorio-coached squad secured its sixth win in nine starts to lock up a playoff spot. The victory also marked the Hotshots' second straight win against the Gin Kings this conference. “They followed their game plan to the T, and you can tell,” Murphy noted. “If you take one thing away from them, they have four other options.” Despite the disappointing loss, the 29-year-old Ginebra import considered it an honor to take part in the league's most storied basketball rivalry. “I feel great. It’s an honor to be here, to be part of this rivalry right now. Obviously, we didn’t perform the way we really wanted to, but it’s an honor to be here and to be able to play in a game like that,” said the replacement import, who came in to take the spot of Riley Grigsby. “They told me that there will be a lot of people here and that people are interested in it,” he added. “But you kind of get the general feeling of how much energy was in the arena there in the game. No matter what the score, you got people yelling and cheering, no matter what. It was good to see.” Following the defeat, the Gin Kings—who were previously coming off a 128-111 demolition of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters—dropped to a 3-5 record, leaving them on the brink of playoff elimination. Ginebra now faces a must-win situation in its final two elimination games against Phoenix on October 18 and Blackwater on October 23.

MANILA, Philippines – Russell Bautista weathered the sweltering heat, shifting winds and a talent-laden field to wrest solo control with a five-under 67 in Monday’s opening round of the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship, capping a blistering front-nine finish with a spectacular eagle. The 26-year-old Bukidnon native, now based in Cebu, delivered the defining shot of the day on the par-4 eighth, where his 60-degree wedge from 90 yards took one bounce on the green before rolling into the cup for eagle. The highlight capped a three-under closing burst across his last five holes, highlighted by birdies on Nos. 5 and 7, and lifted him clear of a leaderboard that had been in constant flux under sweltering conditions. “Maganda ang drive, may mga na-missed na fairways pero nakaka-save-par kasi okay ang bakal at putting,” said Bautista, who admitted he was surprised to find himself atop a star-studded field after a round that demanded precision, sound decision-making and a steady touch around the greens. His 67 was all the more encouraging after a difficult run this season, when he managed no better than a top-10 finish in the first seven legs of the circuit. Bautista is also seeking redemption after a painful near-miss at South Pacific last year, where he battled Jeffren Lumbo through a dramatic five-hole playoff before settling for the best finish of his three-year professional career. “Medyo nag-struggle,” Bautista said of his recent form, but Monday’s performance offered a timely boost as he pursues a breakthrough victory against a field hungry for a title. Still, the challenge ahead is considerable. Pueblo de Oro’s championship-ready layout once again demanded respect, with its tricky pin placements, sleek and sloping greens, and second shots that left little room for error. The combination of intense heat and increasingly blustery winds forced players to constantly reassess club selection and course management, making a low score a test of patience as much as ball-striking. “Mahirap ang course, lalo na ang pin placements, first day pa lang mahirap na,” said Bautista, who birdied Nos. 11 and 15 from inside six feet but gave back a stroke after missing the green on the par-5 17th. He recovered quickly, however, setting up the late surge at the front. Lumbo, meanwhile, mounted a timely charge of his own, birdying the difficult 18th to card a 68 and tie Clyde Mondilla for second, just one stroke behind Bautista. Mondilla had a chance to draw level with the leader but dropped a shot on No. 8. Coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Negros Occidental and Iloilo, Lumbo continued his pursuit of a long-awaited second career victory with four birdies against two bogeys at the front. He added birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 before recovering from a bogey on No. 17 with his closing-hole birdie. “Maganda ang, lalo na sa wedge at putting, kaya naka-four-under,” said Lumbo, who credited his short game for keeping him in contention. “Maganda ang fairways at greens, kaya naka-score.” The course’s demanding setup made that precision particularly valuable. While the fairways and greens drew praise for their condition, the challenging pin positions and subtle contours punished imprecise approaches, leaving players little margin for error even when they found the putting surface. The multi-titled Mondilla, chasing his first title of the year, also showed the scoring potential of the layout when played well. He opened with three birdies against a bogey on the back nine, then produced five more birdies on Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7. Three bogeys on Nos. 2, 5 and 8, however, kept him from matching Bautista’s pace despite an eight-birdie, four-bogey round. “Ok naman ang laro, may mga konting mali lang, pero mahirap kasi ang kondisyon and hindi madali mag-second shot dito,” said Mondilla. “But making eight birdies is good. Sobrang init sa first nine, pero na-handle ko naman.” Mondilla likewise welcomed Pueblo de Oro’s return to the Pilipinas Golf Tour calendar, praising the course while underscoring the penalty for errant approaches. “Maganda ang course, lalo na ang green, and we’re thankful Pueblo is hosting a PGT again,” he said, adding that a poor second shot could put a player in danger of bogey on virtually any hole. Jelbert Gamolo, one of the day’s early pacesetters, joined Keanu Jahns, Rupert Zaragosa and Reymon Jaraula in a tie for fourth at 69. Gamolo birdied three of his first five holes but lost momentum when the wind picked up, making three consecutive bogeys from No. 8. He fought back with three birdies in a four-hole stretch beginning at No. 13 to salvage a place near the top. Jaurala returned to a course where he edged Tony Lascuña in sudden death when Pueblo de Oro last hosted a PGT event in 2019. The layout’s latest examination proved no less exacting, as blustery conditions over the closing holes made club selection and distance control increasingly critical. Zaragosa surged ahead with a three-under card through seven holes, but stumbled under early pressure and bogeys on Nos. 11 and 13. However, he mounted a strong recovery with consecutive birdies from the 16th to force his way back into contention. Jahns, returning to competition after narrowly missing out at DP World Tour Qualifying, slipped to a share of fourth after bogeying No. 17 that halted a fiery four-birdie blitz over six holes from No. 10. Japanese Miki Ryoma, pro-am winner Zanieboy Gialon and 14-year-old amateur Ralph Batican matched 70s to likewise put themselves in contention in the P2.5 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. A protégé of golf legend Frankie Miñoza, Batican more than held his own from the back tees, using powerful drives of around 280 yards to produce three birdies against one bogey. Playing on a course he considers home, the rising Bukidnon talent said he had expected to break par because of his confidence in his game. Batican also led the low-amateur race with a 70, ahead of Jed Dy, who carded 74, and Vito Sarines and local standout Jacob Rolida, who shot identical 75s. Miñoza, making a rare PGT appearance, struggled to a 78. The difficulty of the test was reflected in the scoring, with only 11 players breaking par, including Marvin Dumandan (71), and three others matching regulation figures. Dino Villanueva, who aced the 213-yard sixth and birdied No. 17, offset those gains with a bogey and a double bogey to settle for 72, joining Elee Bisera and Korean Kim Tae Soo in a tie for 12th. Several of the Tour’s leading names also found the course unforgiving. Tony Lascuña, reigning Order of Merit champion Angelo Que and Guido van der Valk all carded 74s at joint 19th, while Iloilo leg winner Jhonnel Ababa slipped to 75 after an early share of the lead, undone by three bogeys and a double bogey against a birdie over his last 11 holes. Bautista emerged with the lead, but with three rounds remaining, the course had already made clear that staying there would be another challenge altogether. TMT