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Author: Dorothy Del Rosario

  • TNT welcomes back Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the Philippines as Tropang 5G awaits former import’s recovery

    TNT welcomes back Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the Philippines as Tropang 5G awaits former import’s recovery

    While TNT Tropang 5G continues its campaign in the PBA Season 50 Governor’s Cup with a new import leading the charge, the franchise received another welcome boost this week—the return of one of its most beloved reinforcements.


    Former PBA Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is back in the Philippines, not yet to suit up, but to continue the next phase of his recovery from the Achilles injury that has kept him out of action since last year. 

     

    TNT shared the update through its official social media channels on Monday, giving fans a glimpse of the former NBA forward back with the team.

     

    “Welcome back, RHJ! Back in town and back in the grind as he works his way back from injury. Dahan-dahan, pero tuloy-tuloy,” TNT wrote on their Facebook post.

     

    Hollis-Jefferson continues to recover from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered while playing on loan for the Meralco Bolts during the East Asia Super League (EASL) Season 3.

     

    Team manager Jojo Lastimosa said the next step will be to gradually reintegrate Hollis-Jefferson into basketball activities once he settles back in with the team.

     

    “Makikita namin sa pagdating, pagbalik niya siguro mag-uumpisa na siya ng full court na mga run ng team,” Lastimosa said.

     

    While Rondae works toward full fitness, it is his older brother, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, who has taken over the responsibility of leading TNT’s import duties. 

     

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    The Tropang 5G signed Rahlir to replace Darius Days for the season-ending conference, giving the brothers a unique connection to the franchise during different stages of the campaign.

     

    Rahlir has already begun making his presence felt. In TNT’s recent victory over the San Miguel Beermen, the veteran forward delivered 20 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists to help the Tropang 5G secure an important win.

     

    The victory improved TNT’s position to third place in Group A with a 3-2 win-loss record. The Tropang 5G now prepare for another major challenge as they take on the unbeaten NLEX Road Warriors, coached by Jimmy Alapag, on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

     

    The Hollis-Jefferson brothers have built basketball careers that have often crossed paths despite taking different routes. Rondae established himself in the NBA before becoming one of the PBA’s most dominant imports, winning multiple Best Import awards and playing a pivotal role in TNT’s championship success. 

     

    Rahlir, meanwhile, carved out his own professional journey through various international leagues before eventually receiving the opportunity to wear the same TNT jersey his younger brother wore.

     

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  • This Week’s Sports Fixtures: PBA, PVL On Tour, Alas Pilipinas, and Alex Eala National Bank Open (August 3 – August 9)

    This Week’s Sports Fixtures: PBA, PVL On Tour, Alas Pilipinas, and Alex Eala National Bank Open (August 3 – August 9)

    Filipino sports fans have another packed week to look forward to as local leagues, national teams, and international stars take center stage. From the PVL On Tour and the PBA to the Philippine men’s football team, Alas Pilipinas squads, and Alex Eala’s campaign in Canada, here’s a look at the key fixtures to watch over the coming days.


    PVL On Tour

     

    Saturday, August 8 – Santiago City

    • 4:00 p.m. – ZUS Thunderbelles vs. PLDT High Speed Hitters
    • 6:30 p.m. – Capital1 Solar Spikers vs. Creamline Cool Smashers

    Alas Pilipinas Women

     

    6th SEA V.League – Leg 2 (Thailand)

    • Friday, August 7 | 5:30 p.m. – Philippines vs. Thailand
    • Saturday, August 8 | 2:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Vietnam
    • Sunday, August 9 | 2:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Indonesia

    Alas Pilipinas Girls 

     

    FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship – San Felipe, Chile  

    • Thursday, August 6 | 8:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. China
    • Friday, August 7 | 5:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Mexico
    • Saturday, August 8 | 5:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Tunisia
    • Monday, August 10 | 5:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Peru
    • Tuesday, August 11 | 2:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Venezuela

    Tennis

     

    National Bank Open – Women’s Singles

     

    Round of 64 – Wednesday (TBD) 

    • Alex Eala vs. Alycia Parks

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    PBA Season 50 Governor’s Cup

     

    Tuesday, August 4 – Ninoy Aquino Stadium

    • 5:15 p.m. – Titan Ultra Giant Risers vs. Macau Giant Pandas
    • 7:30 p.m. – NLEX Road Warriors vs. TNT Tropang 5G

    Wednesday, August 5 – Smart Araneta Coliseum

    • 5:15 p.m. – Blackwater Bossing vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters
    • 7:30 p.m. – San Miguel Beermen vs. Converge FiberXers

    Friday, August 7 – Ninoy Aquino Stadium

    • 5:15 p.m. – Terrafirma Dyip vs. NLEX Road Warriors
    • 7:30 p.m. – Magnolia Hotshots vs. Meralco Bolts

    Saturday, August 8 – Ynares Center, Montalban

    • 5:15 p.m. – TNT Tropang 5G vs. Titan Ultra Giant Risers
    • 7:30 p.m. – Macau Giant Pandas vs. San Miguel Beermen

    Sunday, August 9 – Ninoy Aquino Stadium

    • 5:15 p.m. – Phoenix Fuel Masters vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
    • 7:30 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs. Blackwater Bossing

    Philippine Men’s National Football Team

    • Tuesday, August 4 | 9:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Thailand (New Clark City Stadium)
    • Saturday, August 8 | 9:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur Stadium)

    As the week unfolds, Filipino athletes and teams will be looking to build momentum on both the local and international stage. Whether it’s crucial PBA clashes, PVL action, international volleyball tournaments, football fixtures, or Alex Eala’s latest challenge on the WTA Tour, fans have no shortage of events to follow in another busy week for Philippine sports.

     

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  • PBAD eyes future Olympians as Philippines welcomes Junior International Series 

    PBAD eyes future Olympians as Philippines welcomes Junior International Series 

    The Philippine Badminton Association (PBAD) believes the country’s next badminton star may not simply emerge through talent alone—it must also be given the stage to grow.


    That opportunity arrives this week as the Philippines hosts the inaugural Philippine Junior International Series 2026, a tournament the federation views as more than just another international competition. 

     

    PBAD sees the timing as ideal to introduce more young Filipinos to badminton and build a stronger pathway toward international success.

     

    PBAD secretary-general Shawntel Nicole Nieto noted that tennis has experienced a surge in popularity because of the emergence of homegrown star Alex Eala. 

     

    The federation hopes badminton can eventually produce a similar figure who can inspire more Filipinos to pick up a racket and compete at the highest level.

     

    For PBAD, that vision extends beyond hosting international tournaments. The long-term objective is to establish a sustainable development program capable of producing athletes who can consistently challenge on the world stage and eventually represent the country in the Olympics.

     

    “Our goal is to produce the next Filipino badminton Olympian,” Nieto said. 

     

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    The Philippines has produced only one Olympic badminton player in its history—Amparo “Weena” Lim, who represented the country in the women’s singles event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 

     

    Decades later, the PBAD is determined to change that by developing the next generation of Olympic hopefuls. 

     

    According to PBAD program director Kennie Asuncion, the federation has already set its sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, banking not only on its current senior national team members but also on the young athletes beginning to make their mark on the international stage. 

     

    “We’re eyeing the 2028 Olympics with our senior athletes, and hopefully in the future, these junior athletes will eventually qualify as well,” Asuncion said. 

     

    Beyond the pursuit of international success, PBAD aims to expand badminton’s reach across the Philippines by providing more opportunities for aspiring players to compete, improve their abilities, and eventually showcase their talents on the global stage. 

     

    As the first Philippine Junior International Series gets underway from August 4 to 9 at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City, PBAD hopes the tournament will represent more than a week of competition. 

     

    For the federation, it is the first step toward rebuilding the sport’s presence in the Philippines and discovering the country’s next generation of international contenders—and perhaps its next Olympic badminton player.

     

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  • Far from home, Filipino imports Kelra and Kairi deliver podium finish for ONIC Indonesia 

    Far from home, Filipino imports Kelra and Kairi deliver podium finish for ONIC Indonesia 

    The Philippines may have fallen short of another MLBB Mid-Season Cup championship, but Filipino excellence still found its way onto the podium—this time through two players wearing different colors.


    Grant Duane “Kelra” Pillas and Kairi Rayosdelsol once again showcased why Filipino players remain among the world’s best as they powered ONIC Indonesia to a commanding 3-0 sweep of Team Falcons PH in the battle for third place. 

     

    The victory secured a podium finish for the Indonesian squad and ensured that Filipino representation remained alive in the tournament despite the struggles of the country’s own teams.

     

    For Kelra and Kairi, however, the medal came with a familiar sacrifice: succeeding overseas while being separated from the people who matter most.

     

    In his first season with ONIC Indonesia, Kelra admitted that the hardest part of playing abroad is being away from his partner, Yang, and their son, Slake. While competing at the Esports World Cup (EWC), he said his schedule leaves little time for family conversations.

     

    “Malungkot para sa akin, pero kailangan eh. Nakakausap ko naman sila kapag may free time ako, pero ngayong nasa EWC ako madalang kasi focus muna ako dito.”

     

    Kelra made sure the sacrifice translated into results. He dominated Game 1 with Granger, posting an impressive 9/0/4 KDA to give ONIC Indonesia an early edge in the series before the team completed the sweep.

     

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    Kairi, now a veteran after spending nine seasons with ONIC Indonesia, said life overseas has become something he has learned to live with. Even so, he admitted that missing his family—especially his parents—never truly goes away.

     

    “Medyo nasanay na din po ako pero hindi naman mawawala yung pagkamiss sa pamilya, lalo na sa magulang. Every time naman na may kaganapan sa buhay ko andiyan sila. Ang iniisip ko na lang palagi na para sa pamilya ko ito and sa future ko.”

     

    The veteran jungler delivered one of the defining performances of the series in Game 3. Using Hirara, Kairi finished with an outstanding 11/0/3 statline and produced a decisive triple kill during the pivotal 10-minute Lord fight to seal ONIC Indonesia’s 3-0 victory over Team Falcons PH.

     

    The result marked a significant step forward for ONIC Indonesia, which improved on last year’s MLBB Mid-Season Cup campaign after missing out on a podium finish when it was eliminated by ONIC Philippines.

     

    This year, however, the tournament unfolded differently for the Philippine representatives. Defending champions Team Liquid PH were knocked out early in the knockout stage, while Team Falcons PH battled their way into the race for third place but were ultimately swept by an ONIC Indonesia squad anchored by two Filipino imports.

     

    Although Philippine teams were unable to repeat their dominance from the previous edition, Filipino players still left their mark on the international stage. 

     

    Through Kelra and Kairi, the country’s presence was still felt on the podium, serving as another reminder that Filipino talent continues to thrive—even when success comes while wearing another nation’s jersey.

     

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  • PFF president John Gutierrez lauds Philippines’ depth after comeback victory over Laos 

    PFF president John Gutierrez lauds Philippines’ depth after comeback victory over Laos 

    The Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s emphatic 4-1 comeback victory over Laos offered more than just three points in the Hyundai Cup—it highlighted the growing depth of the national program at a time when the squad was forced to compete without several of its regulars.

     

    Faced with the challenge of missing key players due to club commitments, the Filipinos responded by overturning a 1-0 halftime deficit with four unanswered goals in the second half. The spirited performance earned the Philippines its first victory of the tournament, lifted the team to three points in Group B, and equaled the country’s biggest winning margin over Laos in the ASEAN Championship.


    For Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president John Gutierrez, the result underscored the willingness of every player who stepped in when the national team needed them most.

     

    “We are incredibly proud of every player who answered the call to represent our country. We believe in this team, and we support them one hundred percent — win or lose,” said Gutierrez.

     

    The Philippines’ turnaround was fueled by goals from John Lucero, Jarvey Gayoso, and Daisuke Sato, while Laos also conceded an own goal as the visitors dominated the second half after trailing at the break.

     

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    Beyond the scoreline, Gutierrez viewed the performance as another milestone in the team’s long-term development rather than a single defining result.

     

    “Every football nation experiences victories and defeats. What matters is how a team responds, how it continues to improve, and how it grows over time. This victory is an important response, but it is also another step in our journey of building a stronger Philippine national team for the future,” Gutierrez said.

     

    The federation chief also acknowledged the role of Filipino supporters throughout the campaign, recognizing both the praise and criticism directed at the team.

     

    “We are deeply grateful to every Filipino who continues to support our national team. To those who celebrated with us, thank you. To those who criticize us, we know those emotions come from your passion and your desire to see Philippine football succeed,’’ he said.

     

    Gutierrez pointed out that assembling the strongest possible squad proved particularly difficult because the Hyundai Cup falls outside the FIFA International Match Calendar, limiting the federation’s ability to secure the release of overseas-based players.

     

    “The Hyundai Cup is not played during a FIFA international window. Despite the Philippine Football Federation’s best efforts to appeal to international clubs to release our players, not everyone was available for national team duty because of their club commitments,’’ the PFF president said.

     

    With momentum now on their side, the Filipinos return home carrying renewed confidence into a crucial Group B clash against Thailand on August 4 at New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

     

    After collecting three valuable points through a determined 4-1 comeback over Laos, the Philippines now faces one of its biggest tests in the tournament with hopes of strengthening its position in the group standings.

     

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  • Alyssa Solomon captures third Best Opposite Spiker award at SEA V.Cup 

    Alyssa Solomon captures third Best Opposite Spiker award at SEA V.Cup 

    The scoreboard may not have favored Alas Pilipinas Women in Hanoi, but Alyssa Solomon once again proved she remains one of Southeast Asia’s premier attackers.


    Despite the Philippines finishing winless in Leg 1 of the 2026 SEA V.Cup, Solomon emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest individual winners after claiming the Best Opposite Spiker award on Sunday at the Dong Anh Gymnasium in Vietnam.

     

    The recognition marked the third time Solomon has earned the honor, having previously won the same award during Leg 2 of the 2023 SEA V.Cup and Leg 2 of the 2024 edition.

     

    With her latest award, the former National University standout etched her name into tournament history.

     

    Solomon became the most decorated opposite hitter in the SEA V.Cup’s seven-year history, making her the only player at her position to win the Best Opposite Spiker citation three times. 

     

    She also joined Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Bích Tuyen as the only players to capture the award on three occasions, regardless of position.

     

    The milestone further separated Solomon from every other Filipina to have competed in the regional tournament. Among the eight Philippine players who have received individual awards in SEA V.Cup history, the 6-foot-1 opposite hitter is the first to win the same individual citation three times.

     

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    Her latest honor came even after the Philippines closed its Hanoi campaign with a 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 loss to Indonesia, a result that relegated Alas Pilipinas to fourth place and ended the country’s streak of podium finishes dating back to 2023.

     

    Solomon still delivered 13 points in the defeat, capping another steady tournament for the Filipina star.

     

    Consistency was the hallmark of her campaign. She opened the tournament with 12 points against host Vietnam before producing 13 points against Thailand and another 13-point outing versus Indonesia, remaining one of the Philippines’ most reliable offensive weapons from start to finish.

     

    While Solomon provided the bright spot for the Filipinos, Thailand dominated the tournament’s individual honors after completing an unbeaten run in Leg 1.

     

    Thailand’s Sasipaporn Janthawisut was named the Most Valuable Player and one of the Best Outside Hitters, alongside Vietnam’s Vi Thi Nhu Quynh. 

     

    Indonesia’s Rara Maradanti and Thailand’s Kaewkalaya Kamulthala earned the Best Middle Blocker awards, while Thailand’s Natthanicha Jaisaen was recognized as Best Setter and Vietnam’s Nguyen Khan Dang took home Best Libero honors.

     

    Although Leg 1 ended without a victory, Alas Pilipinas will have little time to dwell on the disappointment.

     

    The national team now shifts its focus to Leg 2 of the SEA V.Cup, which will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from August 7 to 9. 

     

    The Filipinas will immediately face tournament champion Thailand in their opening assignment, hoping to turn individual success into improved team results as they seek a stronger finish to the regional competition.

     

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  • Strong Group Athletics settles for silver after inspiring run in Formosa Women’s Volleyball Invitational

    Strong Group Athletics settles for silver after inspiring run in Formosa Women’s Volleyball Invitational

    Representing the Philippines in the 2026 Formosa Women’s Volleyball Invitational Tournament, Strong Group capped its campaign with a silver medal after bowing to Japan’s Aleeza Aichi in the championship match on Sunday.


    The Japanese club lived up to its billing as tournament favorite, defeating the Filipinas in straight sets, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15, to secure the championship.

     

    Despite the final scoreline, Strong Group refused to back down early. The Philippine side challenged Aleeza Aichi throughout the opening two sets, staying within striking distance before the Japanese squad gradually imposed its superior rhythm and execution.

     

    The third set ultimately became the turning point of the match.

     

    Sensing the title within reach, Aleeza Aichi tightened its grip and built a commanding 19-12 advantage that left Strong Group scrambling to stay alive.

     

    Ces Molina and Trisha Tubu tried to ignite one final comeback, leading a 4-1 run that briefly breathed life into the Philippine side’s hopes. 

     

    But the Japanese champions responded immediately, closing the match with a dominant 5-0 finishing burst to complete the straight-set sweep and lift the trophy.

     

    Although the championship slipped away, Strong Group’s path to the final highlighted the team’s resilience throughout the tournament.

     

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    The Filipinas opened their campaign with a four-set defeat to Thailand’s Supreme Tip Chonburi-E.Tech, placing their title hopes in jeopardy. 

     

    Instead of folding, they bounced back with a crucial victory over Chinese Taipei’s Earthpower EPV, creating a three-way tie at 1-1 in the standings.

     

    That win proved enough to send Strong Group into the gold medal match after advancing on a superior set ratio, giving the Philippine representatives an opportunity to compete for the championship despite finishing the preliminary round with a 1-1 record.

     

    Riding that momentum, Strong Group entered the final believing another upset was within reach. However, Aleeza Aichi quickly demonstrated why it had been considered the tournament’s team to beat, controlling the match from start to finish.

     

    Still, the silver-medal finish stands as an encouraging result for a squad assembled from two Premier Volleyball League clubs—Farm Fresh Foxies and ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles. 

     

    Despite limited time together, the team quickly developed chemistry and reached an international championship match against established regional competition.

     

    With the overseas campaign ended, the players will turn their attention back to their respective PVL clubs as the PVL On Tour continues in the coming weeks.

     

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  • Philippines rallies from halftime deficit, routs Laos for first ASEAN Hyundai Cup win 

    Philippines rallies from halftime deficit, routs Laos for first ASEAN Hyundai Cup win 

    The Philippine Men’s National Football Team showed the character its campaign desperately needed, erasing an early setback with a dominant second-half performance to defeat Laos, 4-1, in the 2026 ASEAN Championship Hyundai Cup on Saturday in Vientiane.


    Still searching for its first points after a 4-1 defeat to Myanmar in the tournament opener, the Philippines refused to let another match slip away. 

     

    Instead, the national team responded with four unanswered goals after halftime to revive their hopes of reaching the semifinals for the second straight edition.

     

    Laos struck first through Damoth Thongkhamsavath, who gave the hosts the advantage and put the Philippines under immediate pressure.

     

    Rather than panic, the visitors gradually took control of possession and began to dictate the tempo. 

    Their persistence finally paid off when John Lucero found the equalizer before Cole Mrowka’s dangerous effort was deflected off Laos defender Viengxay Sydavong in the 52nd minute to give the Philippines its first lead of the match.

     

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    Jarvey Gayoso extended the advantage from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, calmly converting his chance before team captain Daisuke Sato put the result beyond doubt with a header in the 88th minute, completing an emphatic 4-1 comeback victory.

     

    Head coach Carles Cuadrat credited his players for refusing to let the difficult start define the match.

     

    “Until we scored the second goal, it looked like everything was against us in this tournament. But what I’m happy about was that we changed our fortunes in the second half and it’s a good reward for the squad,” Cuadrat said.

     

    The victory handed the Philippines its first three points of the competition and lifted the team to fourth place in Group B, keeping its semifinal aspirations alive with two group-stage matches remaining.

     

    The timing of the win could not have been more important as the Nationals now prepare for arguably their biggest test of the tournament. 

     

    They will host Group B leader Thailand on Tuesday, August 4, at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac. Thailand enters the match with a maximum six points after opening the tournament with victories over Laos and Malaysia, including a 2-0 triumph against the Malaysians.

     

    The meeting also rekindles one of Southeast Asia’s emerging football rivalries. The Philippines reached the ASEAN Championship semifinals in the previous edition and famously earned its first-ever semifinal victory over Thailand before narrowly falling 4-3 on aggregate after extra time.

     

    Under Cuadrat, the national team is aiming to build on that breakthrough and make another deep run in the regional tournament.

     

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  • Team Falcons PH bows out as Philippines misses MSC podium for first time since 2019 

    Team Falcons PH bows out as Philippines misses MSC podium for first time since 2019 

    For years, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid-Season Cup has been a stage where the Philippines almost always found itself playing for a championship—or at the very least, standing on the podium.


    That streak came to a halt in Paris as the country’s lone representative in MSC 2026, Team Falcons PH saw its campaign end with a fourth-place finish after falling short in both the semifinals and the third-place match.

     

    It marks the first time since 2019 that no Philippine team finished on the tournament podium. The Filipinos came within one game of reaching the grand finals after pushing Myanmar’s Yangon Galacticos to a winner-take-all Game 5 in the semifinals.

     

    The defeat denied the Philippines another appearance in the MSC Grand Finals and simultaneously sent Yangon Galacticos to its first international championship match since the M2 World Championship in 2021.

     

    Team Falcons PH still had one more opportunity to leave Paris with a medal, but Indonesia’s ONIC ID proved too much to handle. 

     

    The Indonesians completed a convincing 3-0 sweep in the battle for third place, leaving the Filipino squad to settle for fourth overall.

     

    While the result fell short of the country’s lofty standards, Team Falcons PH remained one of the tournament’s strongest teams after surviving a highly competitive field just to reach the final weekend of the MSC.

     

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    The tournament also signaled a changing of the guard on the international stage as Team Spirit, representing Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), completed one of the biggest breakthroughs in Mobile Legends history by defeating Yangon Galacticos, 4-3, in a thrilling seven-game grand finals to become the first champion from outside Southeast Asia.

     

    Their victory finally ended Southeast Asia’s dominance of the MSC. Since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2017, every champion had come from either the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Thailand, making Team Spirit’s triumph a historic breakthrough for the global MLBB scene.

     

    The 2026 edition also underscored the growing parity in international competition. Defending MSC champions Team Liquid Philippines and 2024 champions Selangor Red Giants were both eliminated in the group stage, while emerging regions continued to challenge the traditional powerhouses throughout the tournament.

     

    For the Philippines, the fourth-place finish also snapped a remarkable streak of grand final appearances. After the last all-Indonesian MSC final in 2019, Filipino teams reached every championship series—Execration and Blacklist International contested an all-PH final in 2021, RSG Philippines won the title in 2022, Blacklist International finished runner-up to ONIC Esports in 2023, and Team Falcons PH claimed second place behind Selangor Red Giants in 2024.

     

    Although this year’s campaign ended without a medal, Team Falcons PH once again proved it belonged among the world’s elite. 

     

    Reaching the tournament’s final four in an increasingly competitive international field showed that while the Philippines may have relinquished its place atop the podium this time, it remains one of Mobile Legends’ premier regions heading into the next global championship.

     

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  • EJ Obiena strikes gold again, extends dominant run with Germany triumph

    EJ Obiena strikes gold again, extends dominant run with Germany triumph

    Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena’s return to top form continues to gain momentum. Just weeks after posting his season-best clearance and collecting consecutive podium finishes, Obiena once again found himself standing atop the podium after claiming the gold medal at the Halberstadter Hohenflug – 1. Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting auf dem Domplatz in Halberstadt, Germany.


    Obiena worked his way through the competition, clearing 5.56 meters on his opening attempt before easily getting over 5.66 meters to keep himself in command of the field.

     

    As the bar rose higher, the battle for the title was trimmed to only two athletes—Obiena and Qatar’s Abdelsalam Seifeldin. 

     

    While Seifeldin needed three attempts to clear 5.66 meters, the Filipino Olympian remained composed before soaring over 5.76 meters to seize complete control of the competition.

     

    Seifeldin failed to clear 5.76 meters in all three of his attempts, officially handing the gold medal to the 30-year-old World No. 14.

     

    With the victory already secured, Obiena raised the bar to 5.90 meters in pursuit of an even bigger statement. Although he came up short in all three attempts, his winning clearance was enough to top the 10-man field and collect another international title.

     

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    The latest triumph marked Obiena’s sixth gold medal of his 2026 campaign. His win adds to his victories at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poland on June 30 and the Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Austria on July 2.

     

    Meanwhile, Qatar’s Seifeldin settled for the silver medal after clearing 5.66 meters, while American Cole Walsh completed the podium with a third-place finish after clearing 5.56 meters.

     

    The result further reinforces the momentum Obiena has built over the past several weeks. Before competing in Halberstadt, the Filipino standout produced a season-best 5.85-meter clearance in Madrid. 

     

    He earns another silver medal while extending a streak of three consecutive competitions clearing at least 5.80 meters—a sign that he is steadily regaining the form that once made him one of the world’s elite pole vaulters.

     

    Obiena’s busy European schedule is far from over. He is set to remain in Germany for the Internationale Stabhochsprungmeeting in Jockgrim, another meet that has historically attracted world-class pole vaulters and serves as a valuable stop before major international championships.

     

    As the reigning Asian Games champion, Obiena is expected to defend his title at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya this September, with every competition on the European circuit serving as another opportunity to sharpen his form ahead of one of the biggest events on his calendar.

     

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