Category: Philippine Star

Mighty Sports is set to inaugurate its new basketball courts at AcroCity in Guiguinto, Bulacan on Sunday, September 27, in an event highlighted by a charity exhibition featuring former PBA players and Xavier School basketball legends.

The exhibition will reunite former PBA stars and Xavier standouts Chris Tiu, Joseph Yeo and TY Tang, with PBA coach Charles Tiu also joining alongside current PBA players Jeron Teng, Tyler Tio, Isaac Go and Ralph Cu.

The Xavier legends and PBA players will take on the Malolos Bulacan Agilas of Mayor Christian Natividad to cap the inauguration festivities.

More than a celebration of the new courts, the event reflects Mighty Sports’ commitment to using basketball to support communities and provide opportunities for young athletes.

Beneficiaries of the charity initiative include Guiguinto student-athletes who have competed at the regional and national levels, the Persons with Disabilities Malolos Foundation and the Xavier School Association Retired Colleagues Inc.

‘It’s our own way to give back to the Guiguinto community, and of course, to our school, Xavier,’ said AcroCity and Czark Mak Chairman Caesar Wongchuking.

‘We are glad that friends and players of Mighty Sports are going to play and grace the event.’

The new basketball courts add to the growing sports facilities at the Mighty Sports Center, which already features pickleball and badminton courts, as well as a boxing gym and fitness center.

The development is part of AcroCity’s vision as a ‘Live, Work, Play’ lifestyle hub, which is steadily becoming a destination in Guiguinto. It is home to Acro Residences Hotel, restaurants Cafe de Margaux and Mt. Fuji, event venues Ang Hardin and NDW Plaza, named after the Wongchuking family matriarch Nelia D. Wongchuking, as well as the T12 Polo Land.

While the spotlight belonged to Carlos Yulo, Juancho Miguel Besana put on his own quiet show on the sidelines of a gigantic show – and made himself proud.

The 20-year-old Filipino vaulter walked away from the men’s vault final at the 20th Asian Games in fifth place, landing both his vaults clean in a final stacked with Olympians and future Olympians, world-class scores flashing one after another.

And that’s despite a slight injury.

‘I’m feeling good. Happy to be able to land both vaults. And despite the pains, I walked away with no major injuries. Thankful to the Lord that I was able to perform. Landing fifth on the finals is a good achievement for me,’ said Besana.

It was never going to be easy as the field was tough.

‘It’s a very tough competition having Olympians and future Olympians as well. The scores were for world class, Olympic class. And being able to go up against those gymnasts is a good challenge for me,’ he said.

Besana has been nursing pains through the buildup to Nagoya, so just hitting two solid landings on Asia’s biggest stage was a victory in itself. No stumbles. No major injuries. Just two stuck vaults and a top-five finish to show for it.

And he did it while sharing the floor with greatness. For a kid who just wanted to land on his feet, he did more than that.

Two businessmen were killed while another was wounded in an ambush in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur on Thursday afternoon.

Fahad Sula and Alfaris Dalinding were declared dead on arrival in a nearby hospital following the attack in Barangay Pembalkan, according to Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson for the Bangsamoro police.

The victims’ companion, Asmawi Bantas, was brought to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.

The victims were in a tricycle loaded with electronics and other merchandize when the gunmen assaulted them.

Unless restrained by the Supreme Court (SC), there is no stopping the Senate from proceeding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte next week.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the chamber would fulfill its constitutional mandate to try and decide the case, regardless of pending petitions seeking to nullify the proceedings or a potential boycott by the defense panel.

He issued the statement amid a petition for a restraining order filed with the SC by former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, and a petition for a status quo ante order on the voting numbers to convict, which lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. filed yesterday.

Asked about the possibility of Duterte’s defense team skipping the trial, Gatchalian maintained that the Senate’s work continues.

He also affirmed that the Senate would strictly follow the new ruling on the conviction threshold denominator, stating that ‘the court made that decision so we will follow it.’

Impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol said the trial would proceed as scheduled on Monday – from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – despite Malacañang’s declaration of a half-day work suspension for the 34th National Family Week.

Duterte was mum over the impeachment court’s ruling on allowing a lower number of votes to convict her.

‘I’ll just leave it to the spokesperson of the defense team,’ Duterte said.

She said that there is still no decision for her to attend the impeachment trial as the Senate impeachment court has yet to issue a subpoena.

‘Impeachment is a legal process and the presence of my lawyers there is my appearance and participation,’ she said.

The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars stunned the previously unbeaten Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs, 62-60, in the first overtime game of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 26 basketball tournament Thursday night, September 24, at the

Cebu Coliseum.

The Jaguars blitzed to an 11-point lead, 22-11, after the opening period and dictated the pace for most of the way, but the Cheetahs slowly chiseled away the deficit until they forged a 52-all deadlock at the end of the regulation, sending the game into overtime.

In the five-minute extension, the two protagonists again figured in a nip-and-tuck battle, but the Jaguars held their ground to deliver the upset victory over the Cheetahs.

Kenneth Calvin Cole bagged 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Christian Carl Sollano produced a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, with two assists and a block, as the Jaguars improved to 2-3.

Den Rick Orgong finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Serge Gabines and Carlo Sabroso combined for 23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, but their efforts went down the drain as the Cheetahs saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

In the juniors division, the reigning five-peat champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles whipped up a furious offensive storm in the second half to trounce the BC Cheetahs, 70-56.

After a 32-all standoff at halftime, the Magis Eagles suddenly caught fire, rolling to a 61-40 advantage at the end of the third quarter before stretching the leadto 28 points, 70-42, in the final five minutes.

Gabriel Gonzales caught the eye with a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Magis Eagles, who locked themselves in a three-way tie at the top of the juniors division standings with the USJ-R Baby Jaguars and the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Junior Webmasters, all sporting identical 3-0 records.

Andre Patiño chalked up 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and five steals, while Axel Joseph Oropisa chipped in 16 points, two rebounds and two assists but to no avail as the Baby Cheetahs fell to 1-3.

Yuka Saso gave herself a much-needed boost in her long search for top form, closing with a flourish to fire a three-under 68 and stay within striking distance after the opening round of the NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Arkansas, on Friday (Saturday Manila time).

Saso struggled to find her rhythm for much of the day at the Pinnacle Country Club, making just one birdie against a bogey through 13 holes and missing a couple of chances to go lower. But the two-time US Women’s Open champion suddenly found her game down the stretch, birdieing Nos. 14 and 15 before holing out for another birdie on the par-4 18th.

The late burst put Saso at tied for 43rd, five strokes behind Japan’s Yuna Nishimura, who seized the early lead with a stunning nine-under 62.

For Saso, the closing flurry was more than a strong finish. It offered a glimpse of the form that has been missing for much of a difficult season and provided a welcome sign that her game may finally be beginning to turn around.

The ICTSI-backed Saso entered the 54-hole sprint event having missed the cut in her last three starts – the Portland Classic, CPKC Women’s Open in Canada and FM Championship – and had failed to advance in eight other tournaments this season. Her best result remained a tie for 12th at the AIG Women’s Open in July, a performance that did little to trigger the sustained resurgence she had been seeking.

Still, Saso showed flashes of her old self on Friday.

After opening with a birdie, she struggled to put together another stretch of momentum as her driving, iron play and putting failed to click in unison. A bogey on the par-3 11th appeared to leave her headed for another modest opening-round score.

Instead, Saso responded with the kind of late charge that once became a hallmark of her rise to the top of women’s golf.

At 68, she remains in a crowded field and has plenty of ground to make up over the final 36 holes. But the quality of her finish could prove significant if she can carry that momentum into the weekend.

Nishimura, meanwhile, showed just how low scores could go on a Pinnacle layout that yielded 99 under-par rounds.

She collected six birdies through 17 holes before capping her round with an eagle on the 18th for a 31-32, nine-under 62 and a one-shot lead over China’s Yu Liu, who carded a bogey-free 64.

Nine players – including Celine Boutier, Charley Hull and Amy Yang – shot 65s to create a tightly packed leaderboard heading into the final 36 holes of the $3-million championship.

The scoring was so low that the projected cut stood at two-under.

Meanwhile, Abby Arevalo survived the LPGA Q-Series Pre-Qualifying Stage in Florida after rallying with a third-round 69 to finish tied for 21st at 215.

Arevalo opened with a 70 and followed with a 76 before her closing 69 at LPGA International’s Jones Course in Daytona Beach, Florida, secured her place among the qualifiers.

The other Filipina hopefuls, however, fell short at separate qualifying sites.

Daniella Uy finished tied for 56th at 225 after a 73 in Texas, while amateur Sam Dizon ended tied for 66th at 234 following an 80. Both missed the Top 25 and ties cutoff.

Sam Bruce also failed to advance in California, finishing tied for 52nd at 218 after a final-round 74, while Chanelle Avarico had earlier missed the 36-hole cut after rounds of 72 and 76.

Sean Ramos kept bucking the odds and put himself within one round of a career-defining breakthrough, matching Sam Rook’s 66 to remain joint leader after three rounds of the Egypt Golf Series 13 at the Madinaty Golf Club in Egypt on Friday (Saturday Manila time).

Ramos and Rook stayed locked at 13-under 197, setting up a mouthwatering final-round duel for the Asian Development Tour title. The pair head into the decisive round with a two-stroke cushion over Korea’s Minhyeok Yang and Nathan Han of the United States, who carded 64 and 67, respectively, to move to 11-under 199.

For Ramos, however, the stakes are even higher.

The Filipino is chasing his first victory outside the Philippines, having already shown that he has the game to win when he captured his career breakthrough at Lakewood in 2024. Now, with just 18 holes separating him from an overseas title, Ramos has another chance to take the next significant step in his young career.

And he showed plenty of composure Friday as the lead changed hands several times.

Ramos seized the initiative early after Rook opened with a bogey on No. 1. The Filipino settled into his rhythm and reached the turn with four birdies against a lone bogey, while Rook responded with three birdies to keep the pressure on.

The Englishman eventually wrested control with a birdie on No. 10, and Ramos surrendered another shot with a miscue on the 11th. But rather than allow the momentum to slip away, Ramos stayed within striking distance and waited for his opportunity.

That opening came late.

Rook failed to get up-and-down from the par-3 No. 14, allowing Ramos, who trains under respected swing coach Bong Lopez, to claw his way back into contention. The Filipino then produced a crucial birdie on the 16th to move one stroke ahead at 12-under, only for Rook to answer immediately with a birdie of his own on the 17th.

The two leaders refused to blink.

Both birdied the par-4 18th, finishing the day exactly where they had started it – side by side at the top of the leaderboard and two shots clear of the chasing pair.

The closing stretch provided a fitting preview of what could be an intense final round.

With Yang and Han lurking just two strokes behind, Ramos and Rook will have little room for error. But Ramos has already demonstrated the resilience needed to stay in the fight, repeatedly answering Rook’s surges and maintaining his position through a day of shifting momentum.

For Ramos, who has posted several strong finishes on the Asian Tour and the ADT, the opportunity is tantalizing: 18 more holes stand between him and his first international triumph.

After breaking through at home in 2024, he now has a chance to prove himself on foreign soil – and he will begin the final round sharing the lead with a formidable challenger, with two more players close enough to pounce should either leader falter.

The stage is set for a tense finish in Egypt, with Ramos chasing not only the title but another important milestone in his rise as a professional.

A special election will be conducted in Batanes on Nov. 28 to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives following the death of Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr., according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body approved the date for the special election in the province’s lone congressional district.

The Comelec has allocated P10 million for the special election, which will be sourced from its remaining savings, if available, Garcia said.

‘We have also approved the calendar of activities including the dates for the filing of certificates of candidacy,’ he said.

The Comelec earlier said a special election must be held within the period prescribed for filling a congressional vacancy.

The special poll will proceed separately from the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which the Comelec suspended following the signing into law of Republic Act 12326 yesterday.

Sen. Mark Villar will remain with the minority bloc despite his recent vote to alter the conviction threshold denominator in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday.

Clarifying the dynamics within the chamber, Cayetano emphasized that political alignments do not dictate how senator-judges vote in the ongoing trial.

Villar recently broke ranks with his minority colleagues who decided to sit out Wednesday’s vote on the threshold.

‘He’s staying with the minority,’ Cayetano told reporters. ‘There is no minority-minority when it comes to the impeachment court. So, if there will be consultations, it would be more of gauging each other, rather than wondering how we will vote as one.’

Cayetano noted that while senators frequently share meals, discuss legislation and consult each other on legal nuances, they maintain their independence as judges.

Despite Villar’s differing vote, Cayetano gave assurance that the bloc remains unified and operational.

However, he lamented the ongoing absence of several members due to legal and medical issues.

‘(The minority is) working. There is no animosity here in the minority. Of course, we long for the 11 to be complete, but then again, four of our colleagues are facing different challenges,’ Cayetano said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked P9.7 billion to fund additional response measures ahead of the ‘very strong’ El Niño episode next month.

The agency will allocate P6.2 billion in fuel and fertilizer intervention to farmers and fisherfolk, while an additional P3.5 billion has been requested to fund several solar irrigation projects throughout the country.

The support will be funded under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program, which provides support to vulnerable sectors affected by the fuel crisis.

In a press briefing, DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the agency has already received a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) from the Department of Budget and Management to begin the implementation of the fuel and fertilizer assistance.

‘This is fertilizer support and fuel assistance to those who are affected by the fuel crisis and in preparation for the upcoming El Niño,’ he said.

Broken down, about P2.2 billion will be issued to fund biofertilizers, P1 billion each as fuel assistance for both farmers and fisherfolk, another P1 billion under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) and P1 billion in fuel subsidy for agri-transport.

De Mesa said an additional P3.5 billion has been requested to put up solar irrigation projects in provinces that will be less affected by the weather event.

‘We have identified the areas already. We want to maximize the areas that are not affected by El Niño, but irrigation is lacking, so we will increase solar irrigation there,’ he said.

He added the DA is now waiting for the issuance of the SARO from the DBM before it could move forward with the project implementation.

De Mesa said the agency hopes the funding would be cleared within the fourth quarter, in time for the onset of the El Niño.

The state weather bureau PAGASA said earlier that the very strong El Niño would begin by October and could intensify by the first half of next year.

The weather event was last experienced in 2024, with total damage to agriculture reaching P15.3 billion and causing a 3.3-percent decline in the country’s agriculture and fisheries production.