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Author: Dorothy Del Rosario

  • FIFA World Cup preview: Argentina, Australia, Colombia headline final Round of 32 matches 

    FIFA World Cup preview: Argentina, Australia, Colombia headline final Round of 32 matches 

    After surviving the group stage, six nations now face a win-or-go-home scenario as the Round of 32 features a blend of established football powers and emerging challengers looking to keep their title dreams alive.


    From defending champion Argentina to tournament newcomers Cape Verde, every team enters the knockout round carrying a different story—but all with the same objective of securing a place in the last 16.

     

    Australia vs. Egypt


    2:00AM (PHT)

     

    Australia arrives in the knockout stage after navigating a demanding Group D that included the United States, Paraguay, and Turkiye. The Socceroos earned enough points through disciplined performances to extend their campaign and now have the opportunity to reach another milestone in the country’s World Cup history.

     

    Standing in their way is an Egyptian side that quietly put together an unbeaten group-stage campaign to finish second in Group G behind Belgium. They head into the Round of 32 with confidence, buoyed by the return to full fitness of Mohamed Salah after recovering from a hamstring injury. The Liverpool forward has already produced one goal and two assists and remains Egypt’s biggest attacking threat.

     

    Key player: 

    Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

     

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    Argentina vs. Cape Verde


    6:00AM (PHT)

     

    Defending champion Argentina continues its pursuit of another World Cup title after topping Group J with a composed and consistent group-stage performance. La Albiceleste has looked every bit a championship contender as it begins the knockout phase.

     

    Awaiting them is one of the tournament’s biggest revelations. Cape Verde has enjoyed a dream World Cup debut by advancing to the Round of 32 after finishing second in Group H. They have already exceeded expectations and now face the ultimate test against one of international football’s traditional heavyweights.

     

    As always, much of Argentina’s attack will revolve around captain Lionel Messi, whose creativity and leadership remain vital as the South Americans begin their title defense in earnest.

     

    Key player: 

    Lionel Messi (Argentina)

     

    Colombia vs. Ghana


    9:30AM (PHT)

     

    Colombia enters the knockout stage carrying momentum after winning Group K. A disciplined defensive effort in a scoreless draw against Portugal in its final group match was enough to secure top spot, highlighting the balance the South Americans have displayed throughout the tournament.

     

    Ghana, meanwhile, advanced as runners-up in Group L despite closing the group phase with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia. They showed enough resilience over their first three matches to book a place in the knockout rounds and will now look to produce one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

     

    Key player: 

    Daniel Munoz (Colombia)

     

    The knockout stage has already proven that reputation alone guarantees nothing, and the match slate offers another opportunity for underdogs to challenge football’s elite. Whether it is Australia chasing history, Cape Verde extending its fairy-tale run, or Colombia and Argentina reinforcing their status as contenders, every result will shape the road toward the FIFA World Cup 2026 title.

     

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  • PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup imports: Veterans, newcomers set to headline title chase 

    PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup imports: Veterans, newcomers set to headline title chase 

    The countdown to the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup has entered its final stretch, and with every team now unveiling its reinforcement, the race for the season-ending championship is beginning to take shape.

     

    When the conference opens on July 10 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, all 13 participating teams—including guest club Macau Giant Pandas—will parade imports who comply with the league’s 6-foot-6 height limit. The field features a familiar blend of proven PBA stars, former NBA players, and first-time reinforcements looking to make an immediate impact.

     

    Barangay Ginebra San Miguel


    Leading the returning cast is Justin Brownlee, whose résumé in the league remains unmatched among active imports. The four-time PBA Best Import returns after steering the Gin Kings to the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup championship, where they outlasted TNT Tropang 5G in a grueling seven-game Finals series. Brownlee also powered Ginebra to its most recent Governors’ Cup title in 2022, earning his second Best Import award during that campaign.

     

    TNT Tropang 5G

     

    Defending Governors’ Cup champion TNT enters the tournament with a different reinforcement as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson continues his recovery. The Tropang 5G have turned to former NBA forward Darius Days, who was originally slated to play for TNT in the 2024 Governors’ Cup before Hollis-Jefferson decided to return. Since then, Days has helped the Illawarra Hawks capture a National Basketball League championship in Australia.

     

    Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

     

    Rain or Shine is banking on continuity by bringing back Aaron Fuller, who guided the Elasto Painters to the semifinals of last season’s Governors’ Cup before eventually bowing to TNT. Fuller returns after his latest stint in Mexico.

     

    NLEX Road Warriors

     

    NLEX will also keep a familiar face in DeQuan Jones, who rejoins the Road Warriors under new head coach Jimmy Alapag. The former Orlando Magic forward first suited up for NLEX midway through last season as Myke Henry’s replacement and now returns to a squad that topped the elimination round of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup before its playoff run ended in the quarterfinals against TNT.

     

    Converge FiberXers

     

    Converge welcomes back one of the league’s most explosive scorers in Jalen Hudson. Returning to the PBA for the first time in three years, Hudson previously played for TNT in the 2023 Governors’ Cup, highlighted by a spectacular 56-point, 12-rebound, four-assist performance against his current team.

     

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    Magnolia Hotshots

     

    Magnolia has signed American forward KJ Buffen, who played collegiate basketball at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before building a professional career in Finland, New Zealand, and most recently Indonesia with RANS PIK.

     

    Blackwater Bossing

     

    Blackwater reinforced its roster with Kentrell Barkley, an accomplished import who arrives after winning the Most Valuable Player award in both the Indonesian Basketball League and the Vietnam Basketball Association. Barkley has also captured championships in Vietnam and Taiwan and now joins the Bossing under interim coach Pat Aquino.

     

    Meralco Bolts

     

    Meralco will finally get a full conference with Jordon Varnado, who is already familiar with the Bolts after helping the team reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia.

     

    San Miguel Beermen

     

    San Miguel acquired George King after his release from Blackwater, bringing back one of the most prolific scorers to have played in the PBA. During last season’s Governors’ Cup, King erupted for a career-high 64 points for the Bossing before continuing his overseas career with stops in Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Taiwan, and Germany.

     

    Terrafirma Dyip

     

    Terrafirma introduces Justin Strings, a Sacramento State product who has played professionally in Canada, Germany, Argentina, and Uruguay.

     

    Phoenix Fuel Masters

     

    Phoenix turns to former NBA swingman BJ Johnson, who previously suited up for the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks before most recently playing for Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia’s VTB United League.

     

    Titan Ultra Giant Risers

     

    Expansion club Titan Ultra Giant Risers has entrusted its campaign to Tirrell Brown, whose professional career has taken him across Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay.

     

    Macau Giant Pandas

     

    Guest team Macau Giant Pandas, formerly known as the Black Knights, will be reinforced by De’Vondre Perry. The Temple University product heads to the PBA after competing in Belgium, the Dominican Republic, and Germany, where he last played for SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt.

     

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  • Philippine boxing boosts Asian Games preparations with overseas training 

    Philippine boxing boosts Asian Games preparations with overseas training 

    The Philippine boxing team is leaving little to chance in its bid to reclaim the top of the Asian Games podium.

     

    With the 2026 Asian Games set for September 21 to October 2 in Aichi, Japan, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) has lined up an extensive two-phase overseas training program, believing thorough preparation will be key to ending the country’s 16-year wait for an Asian Games boxing gold medal.

     

    “That’s our goal, of course,” Manalo said.

     

    The Philippines has not produced an Asian Games boxing champion since Rey Saludar captured the flyweight gold medal in Foshan, China in 2010. Since then, the country has come close but has fallen just short of returning to the top step of the podium.

     

    The closest finishes came through Charly Suarez, who settled for silver in the lightweight division at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. 

     

    Rogen Ladon duplicated the feat in the flyweight class at the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia, before Eumir Marcial added another silver in the middleweight division during the 2022 Games in Hangzhou, China.

     

    Determined to rewrite that narrative, ABAP has arranged a pair of international training camps before the continental meet begins.

     

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    “We are participating in the pre-Asian Games training camp arranged by Asian Boxing, which has two phases,” said Manalo referring to the first one in Bangkok, Thailand, and the other in Nishio City, Japan from next month to September.

     

    The overseas camps are expected to give the national boxers valuable opportunities to spar against some of Asia’s top fighters while allowing them to acclimatize ahead of the Games in Japan.

     

    Leading the Philippine campaign will be a battle-tested core composed of Olympic medalists Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Aira Villegas, all of whom are expected to spearhead the country’s quest for podium finishes in Aichi.

     

    Marcial, in particular, will now devote his full attention to the national team after the planned undercard appearance in the postponed Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather event was put on hold.

     

    “Even prior to the postponement, he has committed for the Asian Games,” said Manalo.

     

    The presence of four Olympic medalists gives the Philippines one of its deepest boxing contingents in recent memory. 

     

    Petecio and Paalam have consistently delivered on the international stage, Marcial remains one of Asia’s premier middleweights, while Villegas continues to build on her breakthrough Olympic campaign as she prepares for another major test.

     

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  • Galeries Tower loads up roster for PVL On Tour with Alyssa Bertolano, Jade Gentapa 

    Galeries Tower loads up roster for PVL On Tour with Alyssa Bertolano, Jade Gentapa 

    The Galeries Tower Highrisers are entering the 2026 PVL On Tour with a reshaped and deeper roster, blending proven collegiate talent, versatile veterans, and fresh rookie additions as they aim to elevate their standing in the preseason circuit.

     

    Their latest roster moves is the addition of Alyssa Bertolano, who joins the Highrisers after parting ways with the Farm Fresh Foxies following a multi-role stint that saw her transition from spiker to libero and back to an open hitter depending on team needs.

     

    Before her time with Farm Fresh, Bertolano first entered the Premier Volleyball League with the Gerflor Defenders after leaving the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. 

     

    She initially played as an outside hitter, later undergoing a significant conversion to libero during the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference under coach Alessandro Lodi, where analytics-driven adjustments reshaped her role into a backcourt specialist.

     

    However, her versatility was once again put to use in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference under coach Koji Tsuzurabara, where she returned to the wing position as an open hitter. 

     

    Farm Fresh reached the Final Four, finishing fourth after falling to the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the battle for bronze.

     

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    The Highrisers also secured another outside hitter, Jade Gentapa from ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles who will further reinforce their wing rotation and adding more scoring depth to a group already built around veterans Jean Asis, Julia Coronel, and Roselle Baliton.

     

    Galeries’ roster overhaul extends beyond trades and signings, as the franchise continues to lean on the draft to shape its future core. 

     

    Holding the top pick, the team selected setter Lams Lamina in the first round of the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft, banking on her championship pedigree from National University to stabilize their playmaking.

     

    In the second round, Galeries added Far Eastern University standout Ann Asis, further strengthening their depth with another young prospect capable of developing into a key rotation piece.

     

    With the Highrisers clearly prioritizing both immediate competitiveness and long-term development, their PVL On Tour campaign doubles as a testing ground for a retooled system built around versatility, ball control, and increased offensive options.

     

    The team opens its PVL On Tour campaign against the Farm Fresh Foxies on July 11 in Batangas City, setting up an early reunion with Bertolano’s former squad and an immediate test for their newly assembled roster.

     

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  • EJ Obiena rediscovers top form with back-to-back outdoor golds 

    EJ Obiena rediscovers top form with back-to-back outdoor golds 

    The Filipino pole vault star, EJ Obiena has rediscovered his winning rhythm, capturing his second consecutive gold medal after producing a season-best leap of 5.75 meters at the Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt, Austria.


    The victory came just days after Obiena topped the field at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poznan, Poland with a 5.72-meter clearance, giving the two-time Olympian back-to-back titles for the first time in this year’s outdoor season.

     

    His latest triumph was anything but straightforward. Competing through windy conditions and a competition that stretched past 11 p.m., Obiena needed multiple attempts before finally clearing the winning height of 5.75 meters. 

     

    The mark not only secured the gold medal but also established a new stadium record in Eisenstadt.

     

    Obiena finished comfortably ahead of Great Britain’s Owen Heard and Czech Republic’s Dan Barta, who both settled for 5.55 meters.

     

    “After many, many, many runs and third attempts, we needed to call it a night after 11 p.m. Thank you very much for having (me),” Obiena wrote on social media.

     

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    The performance served as another encouraging sign that the Asian record holder is steadily rounding into form after an up-and-down outdoor campaign.

     

    Obiena opened the season by clearing 5.74 meters to finish runner-up at a meet in Germany before struggling to an eighth-place finish at the Diamond League in Doha, Qatar with a clearance of 5.42 meters. 

     

    He then improved to fourth at the FBK Games in the Netherlands after clearing 5.64 meters before breaking through with consecutive victories in Poland and Austria.

     

    His winning jump of 5.75 meters surpassed his previous outdoor season best and showed the consistency that had been missing during the early stages of the campaign.

     

    Just as significant was the manner in which he earned the victory. Obiena successfully negotiated pressure-filled third attempts at both 5.65 meters and 5.75 meters before deciding against chasing a higher bar after already securing first place, a decision made with an eye toward preserving his body for the competitions ahead.

     

    The result also strengthens Obiena’s preparations for a busy stretch on the European circuit. Following his triumph in Austria, the Filipino ace is scheduled to compete at the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault event in Greece as he continues building toward the major international championships later this season.

     

    With confidence growing and his performances trending upward, Obiena appears to be peaking at the right time. After navigating early-season setbacks, the Filipino Olympian has once again shown the form that has made him one of the world’s premier pole vaulters.

     

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  • UP begins UAAP Season 89 rebuild with Fil-Canadian guard Irish Coquia 

    UP begins UAAP Season 89 rebuild with Fil-Canadian guard Irish Coquia 

    The University of the Philippines remains focused on reclaiming the UAAP men’s basketball crown in Season 89 as the Fighting Maroons are making sure their future is in good hands.


    UP has secured the commitment of Fil-Canadian guard Irish Coquia, a move that strengthens the program’s long-term plans as it prepares for life beyond veteran backcourt leaders Rey Remogat and Rain Maga.

     

    The 6-foot-1 playmaker will serve the mandatory one-year residency requirement before becoming eligible for two seasons beginning in Season 90, giving the Fighting Maroons time to develop one of their newest recruits within Goldwin Monteverde’s system.

     

    “I chose UP because I believe this program can bring out the best in me. UP gave me a vision for my future that felt right not just in basketball, but in who I can become. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent UP, grow under this program, and keep working towards my goals,” Coquia said.

     

    Coquia arrives in Diliman with experience at both levels of U.S. collegiate basketball. He most recently played for the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I after first making his mark at NCAA Division II program Simon Fraser University.

     

    Long before his college career in the United States, Coquia established himself as one of British Columbia’s premier high school talents. He averaged 35 points per game while leading his team to a provincial championship, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the process.

     

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    The Fil-Canadian guard, who turns 21 in September, is expected to become a key figure in UP’s next-generation backcourt. 

     

    By the time he becomes eligible in Season 90, both Remogat and Maga will have exhausted their playing eligibility, opening the door for Coquia to team up with fellow Fil-Am recruit Joaquin Tovera.

     

    For Monteverde, the addition is part of ensuring continuity within one of the UAAP’s most successful programs in recent years.

     

    “Together with our other recruits, makakatulong si Irish sa atin, especially to ensure na tuloy-tuloy lang tayo pagkatapos ng playing years nina Rey at Rain,” said Monteverde.

     

    The commitment also carries personal significance for Coquia, whose family roots trace back to Dagupan City, Pangasinan. His uncle, multidisciplinary communicator Rex Laguerta, studied at the UP Open University from 2019 to 2024, making the newest Fighting Maroon’s arrival a homecoming of sorts.

     

    UP continues to build from a position of sustained success. The Fighting Maroons are coming off their fifth consecutive UAAP Finals appearance, a stretch highlighted by championships in Seasons 84 and 87.

     

    As the Maroons chase redemption in Season 89 after falling to the DLSU Green Archers in last season’s best-of-three championship series, the commitment of Coquia signals that the program is looking beyond its immediate title aspirations—investing in a future it hopes will keep UP among the league’s perennial contenders for years to come.

     

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  • ZUS Thunderbelles bolster roster with four new reinforcements ahead of PVL On Tour

    ZUS Thunderbelles bolster roster with four new reinforcements ahead of PVL On Tour

    ZUS Coffee is entering the 2026 PVL On Tour with a fresh look. Determined to build on last season’s campaign, the Thunderbelles have reinforced their roster by bringing in four new players—Jolina Dela Cruz, Zam Nolasco, Chenae Basarte, and Angela Jackson, as they prepare to begin another chapter in the Premier Volleyball League.

     

    The new additions offer a blend of proven collegiate success, professional experience, and young talent, giving head coach Jerry Yee more depth across multiple positions ahead of the preseason tournament.

     

    Leading the new recruits is former De La Salle University standout Jolina Dela Cruz, who moves to ZUS Coffee after spending the previous season with Farm Fresh.

     

    The veteran wing spiker joins her third PVL franchise after first landing with Farm Fresh in 2024 despite recovering from a knee injury following the disbandment of F2 Logistics in 2023.

     

    Her arrival strengthens the Thunderbelles’ outside hitter rotation alongside seasoned campaigners Rachel Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga. The transfer also reunites Dela Cruz with former De La Salle teammate Thea Gagate, giving the squad another familiar on-court connection.

     

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    The Thunderbelles also tapped into the successful College of Saint Benilde program by adding two Lady Blazers.

     

    Fresh from an impressive collegiate career, Zam Nolasco begins her professional journey after capping her final NCAA season with the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

     

    The 6-foot-1 middle blocker established herself as one of the country’s top collegiate frontliners, collecting three NCAA championships and multiple Best Middle Blocker honors during her four-year stay with the Lady Blazers.

     

    Nolasco will once again work under Jerry Yee, who also coached Saint Benilde, making the transition to the professional ranks a familiar one for both player and coach.

     

    Joining her is setter Chenae Basarte, who concluded her collegiate career as team captain of the Lady Blazers entering the NCAA Season 101 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

     

    Known for her steady playmaking and leadership, Basarte is expected to provide stability to the Thunderbelles’ offense as she takes on her first professional assignment.

     

    Completing ZUS Coffee’s list of newcomers is Angela Jackson, one of the youngest players on the roster.

     

    The former University of the Philippines Integrated School standout was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft at just 20 years old despite having limited collegiate volleyball experience.

     

    Now preparing for her professional debut, Jackson is expected to add depth at the opposite spiker position as she begins her PVL career.

     

    With four new reinforcements joining the fold, ZUS Coffee hopes its revamped lineup will translate into a stronger showing when the 2026 PVL On Tour opens.

     

    The Thunderbelles begin their campaign on July 8 against the Akari Chargers in Ilagan City, where the team’s newest acquisitions are expected to make their first appearance in ZUS Coffee colors.

     

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  • FIFA World Cup preview: knockout stakes rise as Spain, Portugal, Switzerland take center stage 

    FIFA World Cup preview: knockout stakes rise as Spain, Portugal, Switzerland take center stage 

    The knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues with three intriguing Round of 32 fixtures on Thursday, as Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, and Algeria battle for places in the last 16. With the group stage now behind them, every match becomes a do-or-die affair as the race for football’s biggest prize intensifies.


    Spain vs. Austria 

     

    3:00 AM (PHT)

     

    Spain heads into the knockout phase unbeaten after topping Group H, capping its group-stage campaign with a goalless draw against Uruguay to finish first. 

     

    Austria, meanwhile, secured second place in Group J after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Algeria in its final group match, a result that sent both nations through to the Round of 32. Austria enters the contest with six goals scored in the group stage—one more than Spain setting up an entertaining clash between two confident sides.

     

    Key player: 

    Lamine Yamal (Spain)

     

    Portugal vs. Croatia 

     

    7:00 AM (PHT)

     

    Portugal faces Croatia in one of the day’s marquee encounters. The Portuguese advanced as Group K runners-up after drawing DR Congo 1-1, beating Uzbekistan 5-0, and settling for a scoreless draw against group winner Colombia. 

     

    Croatia also finished second in Group L after bouncing back from a 4-2 loss to England with victories over Panama (1-0) and Ghana (2-1). Both sides possess experienced squads capable of making a deep tournament run.

     

    Key player:

    Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

     

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    Switzerland vs. Algeria 

     

    11:00 AM (PHT)

     

    Switzerland meets Algeria in the final Round of 32 fixture of the day. The Swiss advanced after winning Group B with two wins and one draw.

     

    While Algeria booked its place in the knockout stage by earning a dramatic 3-3 draw against Austria in its final group match, finishing among the tournament’s best third-placed teams. Switzerland will look to capitalize on its disciplined play, while Algeria hopes to carry the momentum from its resilient group-stage finish into the knockout rounds.

     

    Key player: 

    Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)

     

    With a place in the Round of 16 on the line, the three matches promise high-stakes football featuring a mix of established contenders and dangerous underdogs. As the margin for error disappears, every goal, save, and tactical adjustment could determine who keeps their World Cup dream alive.

     

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  • Siargao’s Cloud 9 breaks into WSL Championship Tour, marking historic Philippine surfing debut

    Siargao’s Cloud 9 breaks into WSL Championship Tour, marking historic Philippine surfing debut

    The Philippines is set to take its place on surfing’s biggest stage after the World Surf League (WSL) officially included Cloud 9 in Siargao in its Championship Tour for the 2026 and 2027 seasons as Stop no. 11.


    The upgrade marks the country’s shift from hosting a Qualifying Series event to becoming an elite stop on the global tour, with the Philippines Pro now standing as one of the most important milestones in the nation’s surfing history. 

     

    Presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippines Pro, is scheduled from October 31 to November 10 at the iconic Cloud 9 break, renowned for its powerful right-hand barrels and consistent swells that have long drawn international surfers, after being elevated from a World Surf League Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 event to Championship Tour. 

     

    The upgrade to Championship Tour status also reflects schedule adjustments within the WSL season, ensuring at least 12 CT events are maintained amid uncertainties surrounding the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro.

     

    WSL chief executive officer Ryan Crosby emphasized that the inclusion of the Philippines is both a sporting and strategic milestone for the tour.

     

    “We’re excited to welcome the Philippines to the Tour thanks to the support of the Philippine Government,” WSL CEO Ryan Crosby said.

     

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    “Elevating Cloud 9 to CT status reflects both the quality of the wave and the strength of our partnership. It’s a deserving addition to the schedule that will challenge the world’s best surfers as the World Title race enters its final stages,” he added. 

     

    The Philippines Pro will feature a reduced postseason field of 24 men and 16 women, with ranking points critical in shaping qualification for the season-ending Pipe Masters in Hawaii. Local representation will also be guaranteed, with wildcard entries for one male and one female surfer to be determined through the Philippines Pro Championship Tour Trials at Cloud 9.

     

    The announcement has been welcomed by top-ranked surfers, including world No. 1 Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy, who sees the Philippine stop as a fresh challenge in a demanding tour schedule.

     

    “I’ve seen some footage of Cloud 9, and it looks like a really fun slab barrel into a big air. I’m super excited and cannot wait to go and get barreled at a new location,” Fioravanti said.

     

    For Philippine sports officials, the inclusion of Siargao represents more than just a calendar addition—it signals the country’s arrival as a legitimate surfing destination on the world stage.

     

    “This will be a historic moment for Philippine surfing and usher the sport into a new era,” PSC chair Gregorio said.

     

    Beyond Siargao, the WSL is also expanding its footprint in the country, announcing plans to stage a World Longboard Tour event in La Union in January 2027, further strengthening the Philippines’ role in global surfing competitions.

     

    With stops in Tahiti, Fiji, Portugal, the Philippines, Abu Dhabi, and finally Pipeline in Hawaii, the 2026 Championship Tour is shaping up to be one of the most globally diverse seasons in WSL history—with Siargao now firmly part of that elite journey.

     

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  • Kacey Dela Rosa puts championship dream over professional offers as she returns for her final Ateneo season 

    Kacey Dela Rosa puts championship dream over professional offers as she returns for her final Ateneo season 

    For many rising stars, overseas offers signal the next big leap. For Ateneo de Manila University standout Kacey Dela Rosa, winning a UAAP women’s basketball championship before she leaves Katipunan is her goal.


    The two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player has confirmed her decision to return for her fifth and final playing year with the Blue Eagles, choosing unfinished business over early professional opportunities abroad.

     

    After guiding Ateneo from a semifinal exit to a podium finish in UAAP Season 88, Dela Rosa believes the program is close enough to take the next step, but not without one more push.

     

    Unsurprisingly, interest from outside leagues has begun to build around the 22-year-old center, whose size, skill, and versatility have also made her a fixture in both 5-on-5 and 3×3 competitions.

     

    She recently helped Ateneo secure a bronze finish in UAAP 3×3 basketball, further strengthening her reputation as one of the country’s most complete young frontcourt players.

     

    “Siguro, yung motivation ko talaga is yung hindi ko umalis nang walang championship. Kahit yung mga offers, hindi ko na masyadong pinapansin kasi yung Ateneo muna yung focus ko for now,” Dela Rosa said.

     

    Beyond individual accolades, she sees her final season as a chance to leave something more permanent within the Ateneo program.

     

    “Iniisip ko lang din kung anong makaka-help sa Ateneo community and sa teammates ko, gusto ko na parang mag-iwan talaga ako ng mabuti at magandang legacy sa Ateneo,” she said.

     

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    Her impact extends beyond collegiate play. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the Gilas Women program, where she has helped raise the profile of Philippine women’s basketball on the international stage. 

     

    Dela Rosa being honored with a special citation and inclusion in the Women’s Basketball Mythical Five in the recent Collegiate Press Corps Awards further cemented her status among the country’s elite.

     

    Her recent national team stint also coincided with a growing momentum for the program, highlighted by the Philippines’ silver-medal finish in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division B campaign, a milestone she views as part of a larger upward trend for the sport.

     

    Despite her achievements at both collegiate and international levels, Dela Rosa remains grounded in her goal of finishing her UAAP career on her own terms—with a championship.

     

    “Gusto ko na mag-iwan talaga ako ng magandang legacy sa ating team.”

     

    For Ateneo, her return is more than just a roster boost. It is another chance to turn promise into payoff, anchored by a player who has already accomplished much—but still sees her story as unfinished.

     

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