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DaboyKenzi Releases Four-Track EP

Fast-rising Ghanaian act, DaboyKenzi, has released his debut EP titled ‘S.O.W (Sounds of Wavy)’.

The ‘Chaos’ hitmaker, who has grown on fans over the years with a style that is now uniquely his, keeps it short but sweet on the four-track project.

The EP expands his discography through an experimental, laid-back approach, and as expected, the vibe is effortlessly cool.

Living up to its namesake, the new EP drops with a relaxed energy that hits just right. It opens with slow drums that gently welcome listeners to the meditative atmosphere of ‘Sabali (Intro)’ before drawing them further in with the spiritual undertones of ‘Dear Most High’.

It’s a convincing opening stretch that establishes the mellow mood DaboyKenzi is shooting for.

At least until ‘OdoLastic’ arrives. This is where the project reaches its peak, with DaboyKenzi’s melodies making the EDM-inspired backdrop simply addictive.

It’s a fun piece that highlights his sense of adventure in a way that makes the EP’s final track, ‘Questions’, feel almost dull.

Here, the crooner puts his affection front and centre, creating a track that feels closer to the artist fans have come to know.

All in all, ‘S.O.W (Sounds of Wavy)’ shows promise. While it carries an almost experimental quality, it is polished enough to feel fully realised.

The EP is available for streaming and download across all major digital platforms via https://rainlabs.lnk.to/SOW.

Seylan reports 9M PAT of Rs. 9.1 b

Seylan Bank yesterday said it posted a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 14.04 million 3Q 2026, compared with Rs. 12.8 million in 3Q 2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 9.64%.

For the nine months ended 30 September 2026, the bank recorded a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 9.12 billion, an increase of 9.47% from Rs. 8.33 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2025.

Net Interest Income increased by 6.62% to Rs. 28.8 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2026, compared with Rs. 27 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. This growth was primarily driven by the significant expansion in the bank’s total assets over the year aptly supported by strong deposit mobilisation. However, the bank’s Net Interest Margin (NIM) declined from 4.5% in 2025 to 3.99% in 3Q 2026, due to the upward movement in market interest rates.

The bank’s net fee-based income recorded a growth of 18.19%, increasing to Rs. 7.1 billion in 3Q 2026 from Rs. 6 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. This growth was mainly attributable to increased fee income from cards, remittances, trade, loans and other financial services.

The bank’s total operating income increased by 8.87% to Rs. 37.2 billion in 3Q 2026, compared with last year’s Rs. 34.2 billion. This growth was primarily driven by increases in net interest income, net fee and commission income, net gains from derecognition of financial assets, and other operating income.

Total operating expenses increased by 13.54% to Rs. 18.6 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2026, compared with Rs. 16.3 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. Personnel expenses increased by 12.98%, from Rs. 8.7 billion to Rs. 9.9 billion, mainly due to annual salary revision. Other operating expenses including depreciation and amortisation expenses increased by 14.2%, reflecting higher prices of consumables and other related cost of services during the period. The bank continues to implement targeted cost optimisation initiatives to manage overhead cost effectively.

The bank recorded a net impairment reversal of Rs. 232 million in 3Q 2026, compared with a charge of Rs. 645 million reported in 3Q 2025. The bank continues to ensure that impairment provisions adequately reflect changes in global and domestic economic conditions, the credit risk profiles of customers, and credit quality of its loan portfolio. These measures are aimed at maintaining the adequacy of provisions recognised in the financial statements. The bank’s asset quality indicators remained stable, with the Impaired Loan (Stage 3) Ratio at 1.02% as at 30 September 2026, compared with 1.03% in December 2025. Meanwhile, the Stage 3 Provision Coverage Ratio stood at 84.98%, reflecting the bank’s Strong provision coverage.

Income tax expenses increased by 9.96% to Rs. 4.9 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2026, compared with Rs. 4.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. Value Added Tax on Financial Services and the Social Security Contribution Levy increased by 10.53%, from Rs. 4.4 billion to Rs. 4.9 billion during the first nine months of 2026.

During the period the bank’s total assets surpassed the one trillion mark and increased to Rs. 1.01 trillion from Rs. 921 billion reported in 2025. Seylan Bank became the fourth private commercial bank in Sri Lanka to reach this milestone. The bank continues to attract new customers for loans and deposits, while strengthening relationships with its existing customer base.

Loans and advances recorded a net growth of Rs. 89 billion, reaching Rs. 689 billion, while customer deposits increased by Rs. 78 billion to Rs. 811 billion during the first nine months of 2026. The bank’s CASA ratio stood at 26%.

Key financial ratios and indicators of Seylan Bank PLC remained sound as at 30 September 2026. The bank maintained capital adequacy ratios well above the regulatory minimum requirements, with both the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio and the Total Tier 1 Capital Ratio standing at 11.12%, while the Total Capital Ratio stood at 15.14%.

The bank’s liquidity position remained strong, with the All Currency Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and the Rupee LCR recorded at 163.01% and 171.69%, respectively, both well above the minimum statutory requirements.

The bank’s asset quality indicators remained strong, with Impaired Loan (Stage 3) Ratio standing at 1.02%, compared with 1.03% in 2025. The Stage 3 Impairment Provision Coverage Ratio stood at 84.98%, one of the highest in the banking industry.

The Return on Equity (ROE) stood at 14.44%, compared with 15.89% in 2025, while the Return on Average Assets (before tax) was 1.94%, compared with 2.31% in the corresponding period.

The bank’s Earnings per Share (EPS) increased to Rs. 14.34 in 3Q 2026, compared with Rs. 13.10 recorded in 3Q 2025. As at 30 September 2026, the Net Asset Value per Share stood at Rs. 136.68 for the bank and Rs. 140.09 for the group.

The National Long Term Rating of Seylan Bank, was upgraded by two notches, to A+(lka) with a Stable Outlook by Fitch Ratings in 2025.

Alex Eala in her final event of the year

AS I write this, Alex Eala was set to face Alycia Parks on Tuesday, November 3, in the first round of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) 250 Prudential Hong Kong Open.

I had to do this in obedience to deadline tyranny. Thus, this has to be completed hours before Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. match between Eala and Parks at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium in the former British Crown Colony.

No cause for worry if we go by statistics.

Eala should blow by Parks as Alex is seeded No. 2 in Hong Kong behind No. 1 Sorana Cirstea of Romania.

In world rankings, Sorana is No. 16-just a notch higher than No. 17 Eala.

Parks, who turns 26 on December 31, 2026, won’t be a tough customer for Eala even as the American bet from Atlanta, Georgia, boasts of a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 beating of Eala in their first meeting last January in the 2026 Australian Open.

Eala had since recovered from that stigma-a result of rookie jitters in the year’s traditional first major-as she had avenged that defeat 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 in the Toronto Open in Canada last August.

Parks, a towering 6-foot-1 from Atlanta, Georgia, had her highest ranking of No. 40 in 2023.

A win by Eala over No. 65 Parks would push Alex to a second-round match against either Xinran Sun or Tereza Valentova.

Sun is a Chinese teenager ranked No. 405 and Valentova from Czechia is No. 87 in the world.

But seedings and rankings can be deceiving, if not tricky, as players become seemingly on equal footing once they begin play.

Eala reached the Round of 16 of the 2025 Hong Kong Open, failing to advance after losing to Canada’s Victoria Mboko 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.

The Hong Kong Open is the culmination of Eala’s gruelling 2026 campaign that brought her to high-level battles in the Middle East, Europe, America and Asia, icing her dizzying odyssey with her breakthrough win in the Mubadala WTA 500 Open in Washington DC last August.

Eala was doing well in Tokyo last week, but pitifully bowed to Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinal after a brutal three-setter lasting two hours and 52 minutes.

It was, indeed, a shame that Eala, 21, would waste a convincing 6-2 first-set win, losing grip of a possible victory when she forced a 5-all tie in the second-set tiebreak from 3-5 down.

But in a ghastly blunder, Eala double-faulted, yielding a 6-5 lead to the 22-year-old Shnaider. A smashing ace gave Shnaider a 7-5 win to force the deciding third set.

With momentum on her side, Shnaider quickly sped to a 3-1 lead in the final set, clinching a routine 6-4 win to wrap up the match as Eala just couldn’t arrest a faulty serve that saw her commit seven double faults against only one by the super steady Russian.

With many of the game’s heavyweights absent in Hong Kong, will Eala finally deliver and win the title worth $37,390?

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Only time will tell.

THAT’S IT Yaxel Lendeborg, a 24-year-old rookie of American-Dominican descent, bears watching in the 2026 NBA (National Basketball Association) season. He scored 37 points on Monday to power the Golden State Warriors to a 124-112 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. His heroics came as Warriors star Steph Curry watched from the bench nursing a knee injury. Said Warrior coach Steve Kerr of Lendeborg: ‘…he’s so skilled and so talented that he’s making all kinds of plays out there.’

NTB to wind up Waldlock Mackenzie

The Nations Trust Bank PLC is to wind up its fully owned subsidiary Waldlock Mackenzie Ltd.

It said that the Board of Directors at its meeting on 30 October granted approval to commence the process for the voluntary winding up of Waldlock Mackenzie which has been inactive since 2024.

Its proposed winding-up is intended to comply with the Banking Act (as amended), which requires licenced banks to divest non-financial subsidiaries that do not provide services to the bank or its banking group.

1H Budget swings to surplus; debt at 88.8% of GDP

The Government’s Budget swung to a surplus of Rs. 9.5 billion in the first half of 2026 from a deficit of Rs. 405.6 billion a year earlier, as a surge in revenue and lower execution of capital expenditure outpaced spending growth, while Government debt stood at Rs. 32 trillion, or 88.8% of estimated GDP.

This is according to the Finance, Planning and Economic Development’s Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report released yesterday under the Public Financial Management Act. It showed the primary surplus, which excludes interest payments, rising to Rs. 1.24 trillion from Rs. 859 billion, far above the end-June target of Rs. 72 billion under the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

1H…

Total revenue rose 27.2% to Rs. 2.95 trillion, or 56.1% of the annual estimate. Tax revenue grew 25.9% to Rs. 2.71 trillion, driven largely by a 255.7% jump in vehicle imports to 313,480 units, which more than doubled Excise Duty on motor vehicles to Rs. 266.4 billion and lifted Customs Import Duty by 63.6% to Rs. 153.7 billion.

VAT rose 25.4% to Rs. 987.6 billion and income tax 16.3% to Rs. 568.4 billion.

‘Sri Lanka Customs and the Inland Revenue Department were the main contributors to the increase in tax revenue, reflecting stronger collections from both import-related and domestic taxes,’ the report said. The direct to indirect tax ratio, however, shifted to 21:79 from 23:77.

Expenditure grew a slower 7.9% to Rs. 2.95 trillion. Interest payments fell 2.4% to Rs. 1.23 trillion, while salaries rose 12% to Rs. 621.7 billion on public sector pay revisions and welfare spending reached Rs. 550.8 billion.

Capital expenditure and net lending rose 23.6% to Rs. 276.6 billion but amounted to only 16.1% of the annual estimate of Rs. 1.72 trillion. ‘This outcome may be attributed to the phased implementation of development projects and the prioritization of public investment expenditure,’ the Ministry said of lower-than-estimated capital payments.

Of the total debt stock at end-June, external debt amounted to $ 38 billion, comprising multilateral (39%), commercial (33%) and bilateral (28%) debt, while domestic debt stood at Rs. 19.2 trillion, 84% of it in Treasury Bonds. About 82% of borrowing in the first half was raised domestically, mainly through Treasury Bonds, while net Treasury Bill issuance was negative at Rs. 720.9 billion. ‘The reduction in Treasury Bill issuance also indicates a shift away from short-term financing,’ the report said.

Debt service, excluding Treasury Bill maturities, totalled Rs. 2.32 trillion, of which Rs. 1.2 trillion was interest. External debt service amounted to $ 1.25 billion, and there were no external payment arrears at end-June.

Agreements covering 93% of the bilateral debt to be restructured had been concluded by 30 June, with the remainder expected by end-2026, while talks with creditors from 13 countries are ongoing. ‘Following the successful finalization of loan agreements, Sri Lanka has resumed regular debt servicing to the respective creditor partners,’ the Ministry said.

Outstanding Treasury guarantees and letters of comfort stood at Rs. 971.2 billion at end-March, 51.3% of them in foreign currency.

SOE profits rise in 1H, SriLankan losses deepen

The Finance Ministry yesterday said 51 major State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) reported a combined profit of Rs. 259.3 billion in the first half of 2026, up from Rs. 227.8 billion a year earlier.

The rise in cumulative earnings is despite rising input costs, supply chain disruptions and order cancellations caused by the Middle East conflict, with State banks leading the gains while Treasury subsidies supported Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and SriLankan Airlines sank deeper into losses.

The figures are contained in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development’s Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report released yesterday. Between April and June, the General Treasury provided subsidies of Rs. 41 billion to the CPC and Rs. 15 billion to the National System Operator (Private) Limited (NSO) to mitigate the impact of the conflict on the public and the wider economy.

The State banks delivered the strongest results. Bank of Ceylon (BoC) reported profit before tax (PBT) of Rs. 62.6 billion, up from Rs. 59.4 billion, driven by a 9.2% rise in total operating income to Rs. 131.4 billion. Its loans and advances grew 6.6% to Rs. 2.5 trillion while deposits fell 1.6% to Rs. 4.3 trillion, and its impaired (Stage III) loans ratio, a measure of bad loans, improved to 5.01% from 5.59% at end-2025. People’s Bank recorded an all-time high PBT of Rs. 32.6 billion against Rs. 28 billion, on an 18.9% rise in net interest income to Rs. 82.4 billion, with loans up 9.7% to Rs. 1.9 trillion, deposits down 2% to Rs. 3.2 trillion and its Stage III ratio improving to 6.7% from 7.7%. National Savings Bank’s PBT fell 6.2% to Rs. 22.6 billion, mainly due to a 10% rise in personnel expenses to Rs. 13.8 billion.

The CPC’s results reflected the conflict’s direct cost. Net sales revenue rose 40.4% to Rs. 576.6 billion on higher domestic fuel prices, but its petroleum import bill surged 73.8% to $ 1.7 billion from $ 1 billion amid disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and higher shipping and insurance costs. Cost of sales rose 50.2% to Rs. 567.6 billion, cutting gross profit by 72.9% to Rs. 8.9 billion. Operating profit nevertheless rose to Rs. 23.9 billion from Rs. 11.1 billion, mainly due to the April to June subsidy, and with an unrealised exchange gain of Rs. 7.2 billion, net profit rose 71.8% to Rs. 29.2 billion. Total fuel subsidies to domestic petroleum market players amounted to about Rs. 57 billion.

SriLankan Airlines posted a loss before tax of Rs. 35.6 billion in the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, against Rs. 12 billion a year earlier, based on unaudited management accounts. Revenue rose to Rs. 82.8 billion from Rs. 62.6 billion, but total expenditure climbed 40.4% to Rs. 95.2 billion as aircraft fuel costs jumped about 93% to Rs. 41.2 billion, producing an operating loss of about Rs. 12.5 billion before exchange losses. The group’s net loss narrowed to Rs. 32.2 billion after Rs. 3.4 billion in net income from SriLankan Catering.

‘The above financial performance demonstrates that SLA continues to face significant structural financial and liquidity challenges,’ the report said. With total liabilities of Rs. 561.4 billion against assets of Rs. 209.9 billion, the airline reported negative equity of Rs. 351.5 billion at end-June. ‘This is particularly significant given the Company’s existing debt burden and the continuing requirement for Government support to ensure uninterrupted operations,’ the Ministry said.

That support continued in the first half. The Government serviced instalments on selected BoC and People’s Bank loans to the airline, released $ 30 million for short-term funding needs and absorbed $ 126.5 million in restructured guaranteed Bonds into the Government debt stock from 20 March, 2026. In June, the Cabinet approved a Strategy and Restructuring Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the airline.

In the power sector, the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) functions passed to six wholly government-owned successor companies from 9 March, 2026 under the Sri Lanka Electricity Act. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approved an average 10.3% tariff increase in April and a further 18% increase in May for selected categories, including domestic consumers using more than 180 units a month and all Government entities, while the Rs. 15 billion NSO subsidy supported the remaining categories, about 95% of consumers. Electricity sales revenue rose 20% to Rs. 231.2 billion as demand grew about 7% to 9,304 GWh and average revenue per unit rose to Rs. 31.9 per kWh from Rs. 24.6. Hydropower generation fell about 23%, and despite a 57% rise in rooftop solar, thermal fuel generation increased about 88% to meet demand. The Treasury also provided Rs. 8 billion in equity to fund a Voluntary Retirement Scheme for CEB employees who did not move to the successor companies.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) lifted profit 19% to Rs. 29.1 billion, helped by a 9% rise in operational revenue to Rs. 44.1 billion and a foreign exchange gain of Rs. 2.7 billion, although containerised cargo fell 6% to 1.2 million TEUs. ‘The decline in containerized cargo volumes and the changing global shipping environment remain areas requiring close monitoring to sustain the Authority’s financial performance,’ the report said.

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) more than doubled PBT to Rs. 24.9 billion from Rs. 11.2 billion, on a 17% rise in non-aeronautical revenue to Rs. 23.4 billion and an exchange gain of Rs. 5.6 billion against a loss of Rs. 4.3 billion a year earlier, as aircraft diversions to Sri Lanka offset flight cancellations, including 115 at Bandaranaike International Airport in a single day. ‘The continuing uncertainty in the Middle East, particularly its potential impact on flight connectivity and passenger movements, warrants close monitoring given the importance of Middle Eastern routes to Sri Lanka’s aviation and tourism sectors,’ the Ministry said.

Elsewhere, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s net profit fell 8.5% to Rs. 16.2 billion as higher pumping costs lifted cost of sales about 10%, while non-revenue water edged up to 24.4%. Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited raised PBT 10.3% to Rs. 2.6 billion.

On restructuring, a dedicated SOE restructuring unit set up under the Ministry in March 2026 is liquidating 33 selected SOEs, while the Treasury had settled Rs. 2.8 billion of the Rs. 5 billion allocated in the 2026 Budget for long-outstanding Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) and gratuity liabilities of selected SOEs by end-August.

Roblox chooses Thailand for AI game developer launch

Thailand is one of four countries selected by Roblox for the initial rollout of Build, an artificial intelligence-powered game creation tool, as the company taps local creativity to help more users develop games and pursue commercial opportunities on its platform.

Roblox is an immersive gaming platform where users can discover online games and play together. It also functions as a game creation studio and engine for developers and artists.

“We’ve seen the creativity, optimism and entrepreneurial energy in Thailand. We want to continue collaborating with the creators here to turn their ideas into experiences, communities and businesses that can reach the world,” said Papri Dev, head of Asia-Pacific communications at Roblox.

“We are working closely with regulators, local communities and parents,” she added.

The mobile-first tool turns text prompts into basic, playable games without requiring coding experience. Thailand joins New Zealand, Singapore and Serbia in the rollout, Ms Dev said.

Thailand is highlighted as a market known for its strong culture of creativity, with a community of creators eager to learn, experiment and improve their skills.

Build operates within the Roblox mobile app, allowing users to describe a game in plain language and receive a working starting point within minutes.

They can refine, playtest, share and publish their creations without leaving the app. The core experience is free.

Creators seeking more advanced features can move the same project into Roblox Studio, the company’s free development tool, to build more complex games.

AI is also gaining ground among the platform’s most popular games. In the third quarter, Break and Steal an Egg and Huss Valley — both created almost entirely with AI, according to Roblox — entered its top 20 games by concurrent players.

At its UNBOX ROBLOX media event in Bangkok, the company showcased Thai developers turning personal interests and cultural influences into games and businesses.

Roblox reported 138 million daily active users globally in the third quarter, with 30% based in Asia-Pacific.

To support regional growth, the company appointed Joel Neoh as managing director for Southeast Asia and Oceania in October. As the senior business lead across the two regions, Mr Neoh oversees strategy, partnerships and support for local developers and studios.

Mr Neoh said Roblox could help a new generation of regional creators turn ideas into experiences, communities and businesses with global reach.

Zhen Fang, Roblox’s vice-president of international, said the company would continue investing in local teams, creators and partners as part of its long-term commitment to the regions.

Thailand raises tax on fully imported EVs to 35%, finance minister says

?Thailand’s ?cabinet ?on approved an increase in the excise tax ?on ?fully imported electric vehicles (EVs) to 35% from 10%, Finance ?Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said, part of a new tiered tax structure ?aimed at encouraging investment ?and local .

The tax rate is slated to rise from Jan 1, 2027, according to reports.

The government’s plan to raise excise taxes on completely built-up (CBU) EVs imported without a manufacturing base in Thailand has two main objectives. They include protecting investors who have already invested in manufacturing plants and supply chains in Thailand and encouraging automakers that still rely on imports to accelerate negotiations with the government to establish local production facilities.

Thailand is a ?major ?regional production and ?export hub for car manufacturers, such as ?BYD (Build Your Dreams) ?and Toyota Motor.

The country registered 22,587 new EVs and electric motorcycles in September 2026, up 89.7% from a year earlier, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), citing statistics from the Department of Land Transport.

Passenger EVs alone reached 19,425 units, a 98.6% year-on-year jump.

During the first nine months of this year, total EV registrations hit 191,273 units, an 83% increase over the same period in 2025, with electric passenger cars accounting for 167,789 of the total.

The FTI expects full-year 2026 registrations to reach between 200,000 and 220,000, compared with roughly 120,000 in 2025.

For charging infrastructure, Thailand had 5,021 charging locations with 15,290 connectors nationwide as of the end of September.

NU reigns supreme; UP wins by a hair

National University completed its dominant campaign in the University Athletic Association badminton competition, capturing its record-extending 10th men’s overall championship, while University of the Philippines prevailed in a tight women’s race to claim its 11th crown.

The Bulldogs finished with 25.875 points, capping their campaign with a near-sweep of the gold medals in the team event, a 1-2 finish in singles, and a silver-medal in doubles at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

Clarence Villaflor sealed NU’s championship campaign with a 24-22, 21-12 victory over teammate and graduating captain Lanz Zafra in an all-Bulldogs men’s singles final. Villaflor was subsequently named Season MVP.

‘Winning the overall championship makes this even more special for us. Our victory in the team event really helped us a lot,’ Zafra said.

Zafra is graduating, while the rest of the squad will return next season.

‘I hope the legacy I’m leaving at NU gives the team momentum to keep winning championships. I’m confident they can do it again next year and continue to get better,’ he added.

Ateneo finished second overall with 20.7 points, highlighted by its first-ever men’s doubles championship. Last season’s MVP Lyrden Laborte and co-captain Robby Ramos defeated NU’s Ben Dictado and John Benedict Gam, 21-13, 21-15, to prevent a Bulldogs sweep.

UP completed the men’s podium with 17.25 points after finishing third in the team event. Shan Clar claimed bronze in singles, while Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza added another bronze in doubles.

In women’s play, UP secured its record 11th overall championship with 20.875 points, edging Ateneo (20.8) and NU (20.7) in a tightly contested race.

The Fighting Maroons clinched the title through the women’s doubles victory of graduating players Kimberly Lao and Susmita Ramos, who rallied past Adamson University’s Mary Untal and Jasmine Reformina, 19-21, 21-9, 21-17.

Ramos said the team regrouped after several setbacks during the tournament and remained focused on finishing the season strongly.

‘There were some upsets over the past few days, but we just had to reset and refocus on what else we could do. We gave it everything we had and stayed tough,’ said Ramos.

‘I’m just really happy because this is my last season. It makes it even more special that we didn’t just settle for bronze but managed to win the overall championship,’ she added.

Ateneo, despite winning the women’s team event, wound up second overall, just 0.075 points behind UP. The Blue Eagles collected two bronze medals in doubles through Daena Castro and Andrea Hernandez, and Angel Valle and Althea Hernandez.

NU finished third with 20.7 points, with captain and Season MVP Sab Amora providing a highlight in her final UAAP season. Amora completed an undefeated campaign, defeating UP’s Brys Fuggan, 21-14, 21-16, in the women’s singles final.

‘I can’t even explain how I feel right now. I’m overwhelmed. Even though we lost the team event and finished third overall, I’m still so happy that I was able to win this gold medal for NU,’ Amora said.

The graduating captain also shared her advice for her NU teammates, urging them to focus on their performance rather than feel pressured to win.

‘I don’t want to put too much pressure on them. The more I tell them that they need to win gold, the more they tend to overthink. I just tell them to do their best because that’s how they’ll put themselves in the best position to win,’ she said.

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Meanwhile, men’s doubles quarterfinalist Jacinth Paul Ruedas was named Men’s Rookie of the Year, while Adamson’s Untal and Reformina shared the Women’s Rookie of the Year award.

Under the three-event format, the overall champions were determined by combining each team’s points from the team event and individual singles and doubles competitions. A maximum of two singles and two doubles results counted toward each school’s overall tally.

Cargo ship hit in Strait of Hormuz, one person killed

An Indian cargo vessel carrying 14 crew members has come under an aerial attack off the coast of Oman, leaving one sailor dead.

India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the incident.

“On November 2, the Indian-flagged vessel MSV AL JUSUFI, carrying 14 Indian sailors on board, was struck by an unidentified aerial object off the coast of Oman,” Sonowal wrote on social media platform X.

He said that 13 crew members had been safely evacuated and rescued by the Omani Coast Guard.

“However, it is with profound sorrow that I inform you that one of our sailors, Gandhar Nahim Ajic, from the state of Gujarat, succumbed to his injuries,” the minister added.

Sonowal said India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Indian Embassy in Oman were coordinating with local authorities to provide emergency assistance to the 13 survivors, arrange their earliest possible return to India, and repatriate the body of the deceased crew member.