The Philippine Blu Girls failed to make the podium and settles for fourth place in women’s softball at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine team bowed to Chinese Taipei, 12-2, at the Anjo Softball Ground on Saturday in their battle for the bronze medal. While the Blu Girls narrowly missed a place on the podium, their run here saw the team overcoming early setbacks, stringing together crucial victories and making its way into medal contention.  Chinese Taipei established control early, scoring four runs in the opening inning before adding eight in the second.  The Blu Girls, however, refused to go away quietly, responding with two runs in the third inning.  Nicole Adra Hammoude delivered both RBIs, recording a hit and scoring once, while Mylia Isabel Perez also crossed home plate.  Ma. Angelu Gabriel and Reyae Mae Villamin added a hit apiece as the Philippines finished with four hits against Chinese Taipei's 13.  Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asa-Phil) president Jean Henri Lhuillier commended the national team for the fight and determination it showed throughout the Asian Games.  “Of course, we wanted to see the Blu Girls come home with a medal, but this campaign gave us many reasons to be proud. They faced some of the strongest teams in Asia, fought their way back after a difficult start, and never stopped competing for the flag. That resilience is what defines this team,” said Lhuillier, who is also president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. “We will continue to support them, build on everything we learned here, and keep working toward the day Philippine softball finally reaches that Asian Games podium.”  The bronze medal game brought an end to a campaign marked by resilience from the Blu Girls in this 8-nation tournament.  With another high-level international campaign behind them, the Blu Girls leave Japan with valuable experience to build on as they continue their pursuit of a breakthrough Asian Games medal for Philippine softball.

Kieffer Alas starred anew as Ateneo de Manila University completed a come-from-behind victory against National University, 87-76, in UAAP Season 82 on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Boxing icon and chess enthusiast Manny Pacquiao wants to see more Filipino grandmasters in the next few years as part of his legacy to the sport he loves and plays with passion.  A new chess group, backed by individuals from various sectors of society, has heeded the call of Pacquiao to bring chess to higher levels.  The newly formed National United Chess Federation of the Philippines (NUCFP) installed Pacquiao as its chairman and has gotten a huge support from a chess community waiting for change.  "We want to leave a legacy to the sport by unifying the community first. We've seen so much talent in the country. We have heard the sentiments and frustrations of our fellow athletes. I want to help and contribute," said Pacquaio on Saturday.  No less than Filipino super grandmaster Wesley So, now playing for the US chess federation, has thrown his support to the newly formed group. He expressed willingness to lend a hand to whatever is needed by the NUCFP.  Grandmasters Rogelio Barcenilla Jr., Julio Catalino Sadorra, John Paul Gomez and dozens of other titled players have also signified their intentions to contribute to the chess community and what ails it.  Filipino masters who have made chess as careers, including So, have left the country for greener pastures elsewhere.  Most Filipino chess players want change. Pacquiao declined to accept the post of vice president handed to him by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP). He was elected in absentia.  The NCFP is currently led by its longtime president and chairman Prospero Pichay Jr.  In 2011, Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon became the last grandmasters produced by the federation.  GM Daniel Quizon was awarded the title in 2024. Much of his success, however, was credited to the late Rep. Pidi Barzaga, who funded Quizon’s training in Dasmarinas, Cavite as well as his tournaments abroad.  So, one of the many persons who left the country for better chances to achieve success, openly blamed corruption as the main culprit in the stagnation of local chess development.  The Cavite-born chess genius was forced to change federations after his exploits in winning gold in the 2013 World University Games in Kazan was met by indifference by the NCFP, itself.  It was the last time that So represented the country in the international stage.  "I hope we could bring those talents back to the Philippines," said Pacquaio, whose Pacman Chess Association (PCA) is holding weekly tournaments in Mindanao.

MANILA, Philippines -- Adamson bounced back with a 85-57 beatdown against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena Saturday. Monty Montebon fired 27 points, seven assists, and five rebounds to lead the Soaring Falcons, who recovered from their loss to the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles to rise to 2-1. Unleashing a 31-point fourth quarter performance to put UST away, Adamson created a 5-way tie with Ateneo, National University, University of the Philippines, and Far Eastern University as of posting time. Previouly in that 5-way, 2-1 tie, UST dropped outside with a 2-2 slate.

Adamson University bounced back at the expense of the University of Santo Tomas, 85-57, on Saturday in UAAP Season 89 at the Philsports Arena.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament Adamson def. UST, 85-57 Monty Montebon Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting won an Asian Games gold in her new weight category two years after she was caught up in a gender dispute at the Paris Olympics, while Japan edged out North Korea via penalties in the women's football final in the penultimate day of competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Games on Friday.

Philippine sports standouts Alexandra Eala and EJ Obiena shared some light moments on the sidelines of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Organizers of the next Asian Games in Doha are open to pushing the event back a year to 2031 if the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) decides to make the change, their chief executive said on Thursday.

Hong Kong windsurfers Wong Tsz-ho and Cheung Tsz-yuet both won Asian Games titles on Saturday, taking the city’s gold medal count into double figures for the first time since its athletes started competing in the multi-sport event in 1954. With Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s triumph in the men’s singles little more than an hour earlier securing a record-equalling eighth gold, victory on the water made it nine and 10 for the delegation in Japan. Not even a lack of wind at Kaiyoh Yacht Harbor could spoil...