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Author: Andre Sotelo

  • Josh Ybañez rallies young Alas Pilipinas ahead of must-win clash with Indonesia 

    Josh Ybañez rallies young Alas Pilipinas ahead of must-win clash with Indonesia 

    The opening-day loss may have put Alas Pilipinas Men in a difficult position, but Josh Ybañez believes the tournament is far from over.

     

    With a semifinal berth hanging in the balance, the veteran libero challenged the national team’s youthful core to quickly move on from its heartbreaking five-set defeat to Cambodia and embrace an even bigger test against regional powerhouse Indonesia on Friday in the 6th SEA V.Cup at the Candon City Arena.

     

    For Ybañez, who experienced his own national team debut just last year during the FIVB Men’s World Championship and the Philippines’ bronze-medal finish in the Southeast Asian Games, the current campaign is about helping a new generation adjust to the pressures of international volleyball.

     

    Despite nursing an ankle sprain suffered on the eve of the tournament, the three-time UAAP MVP still suited up and anchored the Philippine floor defense, refusing to let the injury keep him from representing the country.

     

    “Thanks to the painkillers, I was able to push through. Honestly, even before the competition, I had already set my mindset. I knew it was only a mild sprain. It was painful, but once the game starts, it’s different—you don’t really feel it as much. I just fought through it,” said Ybañez in Filipino.

    The Filipinos pushed Cambodia to the limit before absorbing a 25-23, 28-30, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8 defeat, a result that leaves them needing a strong performance against Indonesia to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

     

    Ybañez, however, refused to dwell on the setback and instead acknowledged the quality of their opening-day opponent.

     

    “Every team is competitive, including Cambodia. Credit to them because they played really well. There were a lot of factors behind our loss, but they deserve the credit because they had a great game,” he added.

     

    The challenge only gets tougher against an Indonesian squad that has long established itself as one of Southeast Asia’s volleyball powerhouses, boasting multiple SEA Games titles and entering the match as the defending SEA V.Cup Leg 2 champion.

     

    Still, Ybañez believes the inexperience of the current Philippine roster should not overshadow the progress it has already shown.

     

    “We came into this tournament with zero expectations because this is a new team made up mostly of young players. I’m really proud of them because we fought until the end. Now, our 

    focus shifts to our next game against Indonesia, and we’ll do our best to give them a good fight,” said Ybañez.

     

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    The rebuilding squad also found encouraging signs in the emergence of several new faces.

    Jude Garcia made an immediate impact in his long-awaited indoor national team debut, finishing with 20 points after years of starring in beach volleyball and the Spikers’ Turf.

     

    “We’ll stick to Coach (Angiolino) Frigoni’s game plan and follow what he wants us to do. We’re going to prepare well because Indonesia is a tough team. Whatever effort we gave today, we’ll have to double or even triple it in our next match,” said Garcia.

     

    Middle blocker Joshua Magalaman also turned heads with a team-high 21 points built on 15 attacks, four blocks, and two service aces, but pointed to one glaring area the team must address before facing Indonesia.

     

    “As a team, we just need to cut down on our errors because that’s really where we lost. We committed too many mistakes. There were also times when they would go on scoring runs and we couldn’t stop their momentum. Reducing our errors is the biggest thing we need to improve,” said Magalaman.

     

    With their backs against the wall, Alas Pilipinas now heads into Friday’s showdown knowing that cleaner execution—and the resilience shown by veterans like Ybañez—could determine whether their SEA V.Cup campaign continues beyond the group stage.

     

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  • Gilas Boys surge into joint lead after capturing FIBA 3×3 Nations League Stop 3 title 

    Gilas Boys surge into joint lead after capturing FIBA 3×3 Nations League Stop 3 title 

    Just two days after falling a single basket short of a championship, Gilas Pilipinas Boys made sure there would be no heartbreak this time.


    The young Filipinos completed an unbeaten run in Stop 3 of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Asia 2 Conference, capping their impressive campaign with a 19-14 victory over Japan in the final on Wednesday at Hextar World Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.


    The championship could prove pivotal in the race for an outright berth to the FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup, as the Philippines climbed into a share of first place in the overall conference standings with Belarus. Both teams now have 240 points after three stops, while New Zealand sits just behind with 230 and Japan follows with 220, setting up a tightly contested battle entering the second half of the tournament.


    The Filipinos wasted little time asserting themselves in the title match.


    Cabs Cabonilas, Koji Buenaflor, and Earl Medina combined for a relentless offensive display that built an 18-10 cushion before Gilas comfortably sealed the five-point victory.


    Cabonilas paced the team with seven points, Buenaflor chipped in six, while Medina delivered two timely two-point baskets to finish with five markers.


    The title was built on a flawless day from start to finish.


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    Gilas first took down New Zealand, 21-16, behind another explosive performance from Cabonilas, who erupted for 11 points. The squad carried that momentum into its second pool game, cruising past Singapore, 22-14, as Cabonilas added 10 more points while Jhuniel dela Rama and Medina contributed six points each.


    Cabonilas’ return after sitting out Stop 2 immediately paid dividends, providing the offensive spark that helped the Philippines climb back to the top of the conference standings.


    Meanwhile, the Gilas Pilipinas Girls remained fifth overall with 170 points after splitting their assignments.


    The Philippine quartet of Elaine Patio, Kristan Yumul, Alyssa Rodriguez, and Marga Villanueva absorbed a 21-7 loss to Japan before recovering with a 15-11 victory over Singapore to end the day on a winning note.


    The Nations League takes a one-day break before resuming Friday with Stop 4.


    The Gilas Boys will once again face New Zealand, along with Malaysia, in pool play, while the Gilas Girls are set for another showdown against Japan before taking on Malaysia as both teams continue their chase for valuable conference points.


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  • Phoenix lands Gian Mamuyac as Rain or Shine ends four-year partnership 

    Phoenix lands Gian Mamuyac as Rain or Shine ends four-year partnership 

    One of the PBA’s longest-running contract standoffs has finally reached its conclusion.

     

    After weeks of uncertainty surrounding Gian Mamuyac’s future, Rain or Shine officially parted ways with the versatile guard, sending him and a Season 53 second-round pick to Phoenix in exchange for the Fuel Masters’ first-round selection in the same draft.

     

    The trade, approved by the PBA on Thursday, closes the chapter on Mamuyac’s four-year tenure with the Elasto Painters—the franchise that selected him fifth overall in the Season 47 Rookie Draft and helped shape him into one of the league’s rising two-way guards.

     

    Titan Management Group, which represents Mamuyac, also confirmed the transaction.

     

    Rather than reaching a new agreement, both sides ultimately chose a fresh start after contract negotiations dragged on without a resolution heading into the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

     

    Although Rain or Shine retained Mamuyac’s rights through the league’s automatic extension rule for expiring contracts during the season, negotiations remained at a standstill until the trade provided an exit for both parties.

     

    Mamuyac now reunites with fellow Titan Management clients and former Ateneo standouts Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay at Phoenix, giving the Fuel Masters another proven backcourt piece as they continue reshaping their roster.

     

    His departure also marks the end of a productive run in Rain or Shine, where he emerged as one of the franchise’s most dependable young players alongside Adrian Nocum and Andrei Caracut.

     

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    Ironically, Mamuyac’s final appearance in an Elasto Painters uniform came only days before the trade became official. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists in a 131-108 loss to Blackwater, unaware it would be his farewell game with the team.

     

    Even then, the 6-foot-2 guard made it clear that his preference was to remain with the organization he had come to regard as home.

     

    “Iba pa rin talaga yung maglaro para sa mga taong you consider as family. And ganyan kami sa Rain or Shine, close kami lahat diyan. Napamahal na ako sa lahat,” he said.

     

    “I really want to stay and hopefully, may mangyari na sa negotiations.”

     

    Instead, those words became his final public remarks as a Rain or Shine player.

     

    Now wearing Phoenix colors, Mamuyac gets the fresh opportunity both sides ultimately needed, while the Elasto Painters move forward with additional draft capital after bringing an end to one of the offseason’s most closely watched contract disputes.

     

     

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  • New-look Alas Men shocked by Cambodia in SEA V.League opener 

    New-look Alas Men shocked by Cambodia in SEA V.League opener 

    A revamped Alas Pilipinas Men’s squad learned the hard way that there are no easy matches in Southeast Asian volleyball anymore.

     

    Making their first appearance together under a retooled roster, the Filipinos were stunned by an inspired Cambodia side, 25-23, 28-30, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8, on Wednesday in the opening match of the 6th Men’s SEA V.League at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.

     

    The defeat spoiled the impressive national team debuts of several newcomers, including La Salle middle blocker Josh Magalaman and five-time Spikers’ Turf MVP Jude Garcia, who provided much of the offensive firepower throughout the grueling five-set battle.

     

    Magalaman announced his arrival on the international stage with a team-high 21 points built on 15 attacks, four blocks, and two service aces.

     

    Garcia was equally impressive in his first indoor appearance for the national team, finishing with 20 points on 18 attacks, one block, and one ace.

     

    Despite those performances, Alas Pilipinas struggled to close out key stretches against a Cambodian squad that showed just how much it has improved over the past year.

     

    The Philippines found itself in danger of falling behind by two sets after Cambodia claimed the opening frame, but the hosts responded with one of the tournament’s most dramatic sets.

     

    Holding a comfortable 24-21 lead in the second, Alas appeared ready to level the match before Cambodia erased three consecutive set points and even earned an opportunity to take a commanding two-set advantage after back-to-back Philippine errors made it 25-24.

     

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    The hosts refused to fold.

     

    A tense exchange followed as both teams traded momentum well into extended play before Alas finally converted its fifth set point, with team captain Lloyd Josafat delivering a timely block to seal a hard-earned 30-28 victory.

     

    The match remained evenly contested as Cambodia regained control in the third set before Alas answered once more in the fourth, forcing a deciding fifth set after a 25-22 win.

     

    However, the momentum quickly disappeared when the final frame began.

     

    Cambodia raced to a commanding 4-0 start and never allowed the Philippines to recover, stretching the lead to as many as eight points before completing one of the biggest victories in the country’s recent volleyball history.

     

    The result marked a dramatic reversal from last year’s SEA V.League, where the Philippines swept both of its meetings against Cambodia during the visitors’ tournament debut.

     

    This time, Cambodia returned with a more experienced and composed lineup, proving its rapid progress by earning its first victory over Alas Pilipinas in the competition.

     

    The loss immediately places the Philippines in a difficult position in the short tournament format, with the Nationals now needing a strong response against Indonesia on Thursday to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

     

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  • Alas Pilipinas Men kicks off SEA V Cup against Cambodia in Candon

    Alas Pilipinas Men kicks off SEA V Cup against Cambodia in Candon

    After falling short of the podium a year ago, Alas Pilipinas enters the 2026 SEA V Cup with a renewed opportunity to reestablish itself among Southeast Asia’s volleyball contenders.


    The national men’s team begins its Group B campaign on Wednesday against Cambodia at 5:30 p.m. at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur, hoping to build momentum in a tournament that not only offers regional bragging rights but also valuable FIVB World Ranking points.


    The Philippines is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign, when it finished fourth in both legs of the tournament, then known as the SEA V.League. 


    Before that, the Filipinos captured bronze medals in both legs of the 2024 edition, a standard they are determined to reach again.


    Veteran leadership will once more anchor the squad as Josh Ybañez, Lloyd Josafat, Louie Ramirez, and Vince Lorenzo spearhead the team’s bid under Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni.


    Although Alas Pilipinas will be without two of its biggest stars in Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, the roster welcomes additional versatility through SEA Games beach volleyball bronze medalist Jude Garcia, who strengthens the team’s wing rotation.


    Joining the lineup are setters Greg Ancheta and Adrian Villados, spikers Jian Salarzon, Axel Van Book, Lirick Mendoza, and Al-Bukharie Sali and middle blockers Rodge Alejos and Joshua Magalaman.


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    The SEA V Cup also serves as an important measure for Alas Pilipinas following its breakthrough campaign at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship. 


    With FIVB World Ranking points at stake, every match carries added significance as the Filipinos look to improve their standing internationally while building momentum for future continental competitions. 


    The six-team tournament has also grown more competitive this year with the inclusion of Myanmar, expanding the field from five to six nations.


    Myanmar joins defending 2025 first-leg champion Thailand and Vietnam in Group A, while Indonesia rounds out Group B alongside the Philippines and Cambodia.


    The tournament opens with Thailand facing Vietnam at 2 p.m. before Alas Pilipinas takes the court in the second match of the day.


    Only the top two teams from each group will advance to Saturday’s semifinals, with the gold and bronze medal matches scheduled on Sunday.


    Hosted by Candon City Mayor Eric Singson and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, the SEA V Cup gives Alas Pilipinas another chance to measure its progress on the regional stage while collecting crucial ranking points that could boost its standing in international competition.


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  • PVL and Alas stars bring volleyball flair to Star Magic All-Star Games 

    PVL and Alas stars bring volleyball flair to Star Magic All-Star Games 

    The Star Magic All-Star Games are adding even more firepower to this year’s festivities—and this time, some of the country’s top volleyball stars are stepping onto the entertainment stage.

     

    Professional standouts and collegiate stars will headline the women’s volleyball exhibition on August 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena, bringing together athletes and celebrities in one of the marquee events of the annual showcase.

     

    Leading the cast is multi-time PVL champion Risa Sato, who will reinforce the Lady Warriors after establishing herself as one of the league’s most accomplished middle blockers.

     

    Currently suiting up for the Akari Chargers, Sato brings an impressive résumé that includes 11 Premier Volleyball League championships and years of experience competing at the highest level of Philippine volleyball.

     

    Joining the opposing Lady Spikers is Alas Pilipinas Women’s standout Niña Ytang, who continues to cement her reputation as one of the country’s premier middle blockers.

     

    The former collegiate star enters the event as a four-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker and remains a key member of the national team program.

     

    The Lady Spikers will also receive a boost from veteran setter Jules Tolentino, who helped steer the now-defunct Petro Gazz franchise to the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference championship.

     

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    Familiar faces will also return to the annual spectacle.

     

    San Beda standout Erin Navarro is back for another appearance after participating in last year’s edition, while Adamson University’s Bella Sapienza is set to make her Star Magic All-Star Games debut.

     

    The Lady Spikers’ lineup is rounded out by Analain Salvador, Lella Ford, Fyang Smith, Vivoree, Magui Ford, Janah Zaplan, Ai dela Cruz, Isabel Laohoo, and Sophie Reyes.

     

    On the other side, Sato and the Lady Warriors will be joined by Reign Parani, Rans Rifol, Gillian Vicencio, Jas Dudley, Rain Celmar, Kolette Madelo, and Leona Andalio.

     

    With PVL champions, national team standouts, collegiate stars, and entertainment personalities sharing the same court, this year’s women’s volleyball match is shaping up to be one of the biggest attractions of the 2026 Star Magic All-Star Games.

     

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  • Robert Bolick credits Jimmy Alapag for transforming NLEX into a family 

    Robert Bolick credits Jimmy Alapag for transforming NLEX into a family 

    NLEX’s unbeaten start to the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup isn’t just about hot shooting or impressive offensive numbers.

     

    For Robert Bolick, the Road Warriors’ early success has been built on something much deeper—a culture that first-year head coach Jimmy Alapag has established from the moment he took over the franchise.

     

    That winning environment continued to bear fruit on Tuesday as NLEX overwhelmed Titan Ultra, 135-100, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo to stretch its record to a league-best 3-0.

     

    Bolick once again spearheaded the attack, finishing with 29 points on an efficient 11-of-16 shooting while adding seven rebounds and four assists as the Road Warriors remained one of the conference’s hottest teams.

     

    While the numbers have been impressive, Bolick pointed to Alapag’s leadership as the biggest reason behind the team’s seamless start.

     

    “Una, siyempre legend na nga sa PBA, legend pa sa Gilas, may NBA experience,” Bolick said of his head coach after the game.

     

    “Ang laking confidence hindi lang para sa akin, kundi para sa team. Kami lang makakasabi na may NBA coach kami. Malaking bagay sa team namin ‘yan.”

     

    According to Bolick, Alapag’s influence extends well beyond X’s and O’s.

     

    Rather than focusing solely on basketball, the former Gilas Pilipinas captain made it a priority to strengthen the relationships inside the locker room, believing that genuine trust off the court would naturally carry over during games.

     

    “Unang pasok ni coach, gusto niya hindi kami as a team. Family-oriented gusto niya,” Bolick shared.

     

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    “Makikita mo naman ‘yung samahan namin. Hindi na kami as a team—we are a family. So, continue lang namin.”

     

    That family atmosphere has also translated into confidence on the floor.

     

    Bolick explained that every player has been encouraged to play without hesitation, allowing NLEX to become a balanced offensive team capable of hurting opponents from multiple positions.

     

    “Binibigay lang namin ‘yung best namin every game. Si coach binibigyan niya ng kumpiyansa lahat ng players,” he said.

     

    “Lahat kami, confident sa mga tira namin. Pag pinapasahan ko ‘yung kasama ko, alam kong kumpiyansa sila.”

     

    The confidence has shown through three games, with NLEX opening the conference undefeated while establishing itself as one of the early contenders in the Governors’ Cup.

     

    After navigating a demanding stretch of three games in six days, the Road Warriors will now enjoy a brief break before putting their perfect record on the line against the San Miguel Beermen on July 26. 

     

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  • Alas Boys let quarterfinal dream slip away after reverse-sweep loss to India 

    Alas Boys let quarterfinal dream slip away after reverse-sweep loss to India 

    Alas Pilipinas Boys stood just one set away from making history.

     

    Instead, the young Nationals were left to wonder what could have been after India stormed back from two sets down to complete a stunning 16-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-4 victory on Tuesday at the Wuyuan River Gymnasium in Haikou, China, ending the Philippines’ bid for a breakthrough quarterfinal appearance in the AVC Boys’ U18 Volleyball Championship.

     

    The heartbreaking defeat dropped Alas Pilipinas to third place in Pool B with a 1-2 record, leaving the Philippines out of the knockout stage as Iran (3-0) and India (2-1) secured the group’s two quarterfinal berths. Bahrain finished winless at 0-3.

     

    The Filipinos appeared to be in complete control early.

     

    Behind the attacking trio of Terrence Marticion, Ar-Raquib Dais, Djomari Gamotea, and John Daniel Dela Cruz, Alas dictated the pace in the opening two sets, overwhelming India with balanced offense and aggressive net play to move within a frame of the last eight.

     

    But the momentum slowly shifted.

     

    India settled into the match in the third and fourth sets, making key defensive adjustments while finding answers to the offensive schemes orchestrated by Alas captain Howard Guerra.

     

    The comeback forced a winner-take-all fifth set, where the Philippines attempted another tactical adjustment by moving Guerra to an open hitter role while Louie Jeff Gallego took over playmaking duties.

     

    The gamble, however, failed to slow down an Indian side that entered the decider full of confidence.

     

    Team captain Sourabh Kashma, together with Adarsh Singh and Deepak Deepak, fueled a blistering start that gave India an early 8-2 advantage.

     

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    Gamotea briefly halted the run with a block on Kashma, but India immediately answered with four straight points to seize complete control at 12-3.

     

    Guerra managed one final crosscourt kill, yet a costly net violation pushed India to match point before Kashma capped his stellar performance with back-to-back service aces to complete the dramatic comeback.

     

    “We were so close; we were already there, but we fell short. We did not hold on until the end. There are situations where we could take the set and win, but maybe this match is not for us,” head coach Oliver Balse said.

     

    “I am still happy with how they performed, because I can really see the skills, but the maturity is something that we really need to work on,” he added.

     

    Marticion paced the Philippines with 16 points built on 14 attacks and two service aces.

     

    Galapin and Dais backed him with 14 points apiece, while Gamotea and Dela Cruz added nine markers each in the losing effort.

     

    Despite the painful exit from quarterfinal contention, the players remained determined to finish the tournament on a positive note.

     

    “We are thankful since we gave our best. No one was injured, and we will do our best in the classification round,” Marticion said.

     

    “We still keep our heads up high, and this serves as a hard-learned lesson for us. Still, we are inspired to do better in our own leagues in the Philippines,” he added.

     

    Kashma powered India with a match-high 31 points, while Deepak contributed 16 as India completed one of the tournament’s biggest comebacks to keep its medal hopes alive.

     

    The Philippines will now shift its focus to the classification phase, with its next opponent to be determined after the conclusion of the remaining Day 3 matches.

     

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  • Gilas Boys stay in hunt despite split as FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League race tightens 

    Gilas Boys stay in hunt despite split as FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League race tightens 

    The race for a spot in the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup remains wide open for Gilas Pilipinas Boys despite a mixed showing in Stop 2 of the Asia 2 Conference on Tuesday at Hextar World Empire City in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

     

    The Philippine squad settled for a split in its two assignments, falling to Japan before bouncing back with a convincing win over host Malaysia to remain firmly in the hunt as the week-long Nations League reached its second stop.

     

    The day’s results left Gilas Boys tied with Japan for third place in the overall conference standings with 140 points each. New Zealand joined Belarus atop the leaderboard with 170 points after edging Japan, 21-20, in the Stop 2 championship game.

     

    The Philippines opened its campaign with a tightly contested battle against Japan that remained deadlocked at 17-all late in the game.

     

    Suguru Ishiguchi broke the tie with a clutch two-pointer to put Japan ahead, 19-17, with just over a minute remaining.

     

    Jhuniel Dela Rama, who stepped in for Cabs Cabonilas in Stop 2, answered with a basket to trim the deficit to one, but Ishiguchi delivered another dagger from beyond the arc with 45 seconds left to seal Japan’s 21-18 victory.

     

    Koji Buenaflor led the Filipino charge with eight points, while Dela Rama and Earl Medina contributed four markers apiece.

     

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    Refusing to dwell on the setback, Gilas responded with authority in its second outing.

     

    The Nationals overwhelmed Malaysia from start to finish, cruising to a 21-8 victory behind an eight-point explosion from Jedric Daa to close the day with a 1-1 record.

     

    The Gilas Girls also split their assignments in Stop 2.

     

    The Philippines opened with a solid 16-9 victory over New Zealand as Marga Villanueva and Elaine Patio combined for 11 points to power the offense.

     

    Malaysia, however, once again stood in the Filipinas’ way.

     

    After defeating Gilas in Stop 1, the hosts completed another victory with a 21-13 decision. Patio finished with six points, while Kristan Yumul added four.

     

    The result kept Gilas Girls in fifth place in the conference standings with 110 points as Belarus continued to strengthen its grip on the top spot after another successful stop.

     

    The competition resumes on Wednesday with another opportunity for both Philippine squads to climb the standings.

     

    Gilas Boys will battle New Zealand and Singapore in Pool B of Stop 3, while the Gilas Girls take on Japan and Singapore as they continue their chase for valuable conference points.

     

     

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  • Jerrick Ahanmisi eager to learn from Marcio Lassiter after joining San Miguel 

    Jerrick Ahanmisi eager to learn from Marcio Lassiter after joining San Miguel 

    For most shooters in the PBA, studying Marcio Lassiter means watching game film or admiring his highlights from afar.

     

    Jerrick Ahanmisi now gets something even better.

     

    After years of looking up to the league’s all-time leader in three-pointers, the newest San Miguel Beermen guard now shares the same locker room with the player he considers a role model, turning admiration into a daily learning opportunity.

     

    Ahanmisi wasted little time making an impact, scoring 16 points with four rebounds and four assists in San Miguel’s convincing 123-109 victory over guest team Macau in its PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup opener on Tuesday.

     

    Despite the encouraging debut, the former Terrafirma guard believes his biggest gain may come away from the stat sheet.

     

    “I’m super honored. Super blessed,” Ahanmisi said of playing alongside Lassiter.

    “Because he’s the best three-point shooter in the league right now, right? It’s just something for me to keep learning on.”

     

    Their connection as elite marksmen dates back to the PBA All-Star festivities in Candon earlier this year.

     

    The two battled for the Three-Point Shootout crown, with Lassiter appearing headed for another title after posting 25 points before Ahanmisi caught fire in the final round, draining 30 to steal the championship and complete a double victory after winning the Obstacle Challenge.

     

    Even after defeating his idol, Ahanmisi never hid the respect he has for the veteran sniper.

     

    “I look up to Marcio all the time,” the 28-year-old said after that contest.

     

    “Even before I came into the PBA, I looked up to him as a shooter, as a role model.”

     

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    That admiration has now evolved into a mentorship following his offseason move to San Miguel.

    The Beermen acquired Ahanmisi and Paolo Hernandez from Terrafirma in exchange for Juami Tiongson and Chris Miller, giving the former Adamson standout a chance to learn directly from one of the league’s greatest shooters.

     

    “I’m just gonna keep asking how he stayed that long, how he got to that record, how he’s number one, and hopefully I can follow in his footsteps,” he said.

     

    Still adjusting to his new surroundings, Ahanmisi admitted there’s plenty of room for improvement despite helping San Miguel open the conference with a victory.

     

    “I think I did pretty well. But there are always things that I can improve on,” he said.

     

    “So hopefully the next game will be a little bit better. I can be a little bit more efficient, too, in getting my own shots and learning from my teammates.”

     

    Fortunately for Ahanmisi, Lassiter isn’t the only veteran guiding him.

     

    Surrounded by championship winners like Chris Ross and June Mar Fajardo, the sharpshooter believes he has landed in the perfect environment to continue developing his game.

     

    “They’re all really cool,” Ahanmisi said.

     

    “I’m glad that I got them as my vets ’cause if I’m having trouble with anything or if I’m making mistakes, I can go up to them and ask them what’ going on or where I can be better at, and they’re really open to helping me out.”

     

    With one impressive debut behind him and experienced mentors around him, Ahanmisi hopes the lessons he learns in San Miguel will be be just as valuable as the points he scores.

     

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