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The Dasmariñas City Monarchs moved closer to a first-round sweep by fending off the San Juan Lady Knights, 25-17, 25-19, 20-25, 25-10, in Week 4 of the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) on Monday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Samantha Catanda, former UAAP juniors MVP and incoming rookie in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament, sizzled with 18 points to spearhead the barrage as the Monarchs extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Natasha Kaye Bombita added 13 points while Abegail Pono and Denesse Daylisan had nine and seven points, respectively, for the Monarchs backed by back-to-back UAAP and three-time SSL champion National U Lady Bulldogs.

La Salle weathered Precious Momowei’s 42-point explosion of and an apparent knee injury by Kean Baclaan to grab a massive 111-110 overtime victory over the University of the East Red Warriors in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball matchup Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Green Archers trailed by as much as 21 points in the game, but they clawed out of the hole and did just enough to tally the comeback win.

Jacob Cortez powered La Salle with 26 points, five assists, four steals and two rebounds, while Earl Abadam and Mike Phillips had 18 markers, respectively. The former had a game-high +- of +16, while the latter grabbed 11 boards.

After losing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, UE started the overtime period with six straight points as they took a 104-98 lead.

But La Salle slowly reduced the gap with a 6-1 run to make it a 104-105 game with less than two minutes to go.

A Momowei jumper cut the blitz, 107-104, but the Archers, led by Cortez and Abadam, took control late.

After leading by a dozen, 60-48, at the half, the Red Warriors turned things up a notch in the third quarter, unleashing a 15-6 run to grab a 21-point lead, 75-54, after a 3-pointer by John Abate.

But an 18-6 counter run by La Salle in the same quarter sliced the deficit to eight, 72-80.

And while the Recto-based squad retook a double digit advantage in the fourth, La Salle would slowly nip the lead away and take the lead, 95-93, before a triple by Cortez gave them a 98-93 lead with 1:20 left.

Momowei and Abate then teamed up and equalized the game as Cortez’s buzzer-beating triple missed.

Baclaan had 17 points in 21 minutes of play before he left the game with 4:21 remaining. His injury came a few days after big man Mason Amos also tore his MCL.

Momowei stood tall for UE with 42 points on 16-of-27 shooting, to go with 13 rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. This is the highest scoring output by a Red Warrior since Alvin Pasaol’s 49-point game in Season 80.

Abate and Lingolingo tallied 25 and 24 points, respectively.

La Salle evened up its standings with a 3-3 slate, while UE dropped to 0-6.

Filipina drag queen Brigiding was crowned the winner of “Slaysian Royale,” the special edition of “Drag Race Philippines.”

Brigiding defeated her Divine Diva sister and fellow “Drag Race Philippines” Season 1 contestant, Viñas Deluxe, during a final lip sync performance of “Born to Do Drag” by Marina Summers, another “Drag Race Philippines” Season 1 alum.

Marina was back for the finale, having also been in the show’s penultimate episode, alongside fellow special guest judge and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 16 winner Nymphia Wind, the franchise’s first East Asian winner. Wind is part-Taiwanese.

“Drag Race Philippines” Season 2 runner-up Arizona Brandy and Suki Doll of “Drag Race Canada” Season 2, who won the “Slaysian Royale” Miss Congee-niality title, rounded up the Top 4.

Brigiding entered the finale as the favorite to win with three Ru Badges – the most of the season – marked by a lip sync after dressing up an overseas Filipino worker. She won the Lip Sync LaLaPaRuZa Slaysian Smackdown and the DragCon challenge showcasing her brand.

The latter badge win plus the “Slaysian Royale” crown culminated a two-season arc for Brigiding who discovered her branding as a drag queen on the show. The drag artist spent a couple years learning more about herself and reinvented herself as the “brightest star.”

Similar to the most recent edition of “Drag Race Philippines,” the finale consisted of a talent show combined with three different runway looks, packaged as the “Slaysian Grand T.I.T.E! (Totally Impressive Talent Extravaganza!)”.

The three runway looks were as follows: Defying Gravity (high-flying couture while suspended in the air), Yellow Yellow Yellow! (joy, empowerment, and Asian cultural pride through the color yellow), and Come in Your Best Drag (the queens’ best looks).

Brigiding took inspiration from “Divine Intervention” for her Defying Gravity look, ribbons of the EDSA Revolution for Yellow Yellow Yellow!, and went as the “brightest star phenomenon” for her best drag.

“We are all made of stars but tonight, I shine brighter than the rest,” Brigiding said in the voiceover of her final runway.

Her talent was an energetic performance of an original song, “Brighters Day,” which detailed her drag journey.

Among Brigiding’s highlights on “Slaysian Royale” was the lead role in the “Crazy Bitch Slaysians” musical, impersonating Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, and a church statue-inspired drag runway look.

Other than a crown and scepter, Brigiding won P2 million – double the “Drag Race Philippines” cash prize – and a one-year supply of cosmetics from Anastasia Beverly Hills.

As the inaugural “Slaysian Royale” winner, she joins “Drag Race Philippines” winners Precious Paula Nicole (another Divine Diva), Captivating Katkat, and Maxie Andreison.

Mirroring several episodes in this special season, host Paolo Ballesteros dedicated the finale to drag queen Jiggly Caliente, who passed away earlier this year.

Maverick Ahanmisi’s wish to be traded has been granted.

Barangay Ginebra has traded Ahanmisi and longtime forward Aljon Mariano to Terrafirma for the Dyip’s first round pick in the PBA Season 51 draft, the league said.

The PBA approved the swap.

Ahanmisi, last week, bared that he asked to be traded from Ginebra ‘for the opportunity to play and showcase your talent.’

Now, the 34-year-old will have a fresh start with the young Dyip squad.

In 65 games last season, Ahanmisi averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting a career-high 44.2% from the field.

Mariano, for his part, had 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds a contest in 28 games.

But the real gem here is the first round pick of Terrafirma.

The Season 51 draft is set to be held in January 2027, which is about the end of the UAAP season.

Among the big names from the UAAP and the NCAA who could declare for the draft are La Salle center Mike Phillips, Mapua floor general Clint Escamis and UST scorer Nic Cabanero.

After five long years, new Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has reversed an order of his unlamented predecessor, which effectively ended public access to the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of government officials.

SALNs were routinely made accessible to the media until Samuel Martires was appointed ombudsman by then president Rodrigo Duterte.

Following the lead of the Supreme Court where he used to be an associate justice, Martires clamped down in 2020 on the public accessibility of the SALN – a requirement under the principles of transparency and accountability provided in the Constitution and Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Some quarters think the corruption in infrastructure projects would not have reached such alarming proportions if the public had been able to monitor the assets and noticed unusual spikes in the wealth of lawmakers and public works officials.

Remulla is still drawing up the rules and procedures for accessing the SALNs. Restrictions are meant mainly to protect privacy and personal safety and prevent the misuse of the SALNs for malicious purposes.

Once the rules are finalized, the public expects leadership by example from officials. Four members of Congress, three of them belonging to the party-list Akbayan, had voluntarily released their SALNs at the start of September, but no one else followed their lead.

Public officials may follow if the example is set by President Marcos and Remulla themselves. The President, after all, jump-started the ongoing anti-corruption crackdown that has taken on a life of its own, hitting even his allies and relatives. He has nevertheless stood firm on his avowed commitment to transparency and clean government.

Remulla has also committed to transparency, which should go without saying for the ombudsman. He is hitting the ground running, making up for the years lost in the anti-corruption campaign under his predecessor.

Martires had cited the ‘vague law’ and a ‘vague system’ in the release of the SALNs. At one point, he proposed to send critics of his policy to prison for five years.

The SALNs had been ‘weaponized, Martires had said in explaining his move to keep the asset declarations under lock and key. But of course the SALN is a weapon – against corruption. This is a battle that the ombudsman is mandated by law to carry out. The President and Remulla can take the lead with the release of their SALNs.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has rolled out one of its most ambitious updates yet under Project NEXT, introducing four distinct battlefield maps as part of its Annual Map Change. The update not only refreshes the visual experience for players but also significantly impacts gameplay strategy, especially in the professional esports scene.

‘As a game that has been around for over nine years, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has built a loyal community of longtime players while continuing to attract new players from around the world. MLBB stood as more than just a game, as it has also become a shared battleground where millions of players have built memories, rivalries, and friendships,’ Arnold Xie, lead developer at Moonton Games, told Philstar.com in an exclusive email interview.

Xie has been with Moonton Games for over eight years and currently leads initiatives focused on battlefield experience and hero balance. Together with the team, he spearheaded previous major updates such as the “Emblem Renovation” and “Equipment Super Evolution” featured in the past two major updates of the game.

The Annual Map Change is a centerpiece of this year’s Project NEXT update, introducing four new maps, each with unique mechanics, and are designed to offer fresh tactical challenges while preserving the game’s core identity.

“We breathed new life into that mission through the launch of the Annual Map Change. We wanted our gamers, new or veterans, to experience a sense of freshness and innovation, while keeping the gameplay accessible and easy to learn. Project NEXT’s Annual Map Change reflects our long-standing design philosophy of being ‘simple, straightforward, and fun,’ allowing all players to easily enjoy the core fun and excitement that MLBB has to offer,’ explained Xie.

The four maps, namely Broken Walls, Dangerous Grass, Flying Clouds and Expanding Rivers, each modify a gameplay feature, and were inspired by last year’s Battlefield Draft event, which had limited-time modes like Power Eternity, Elemental Eye, and River Flowing. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from players sparked the idea to expand the concept of diverse mechanics.

He added, ‘This year’s Annual Map Change drew inspiration from last year’s Battlefield Draft event. Players expressed strong satisfaction with its diverse gameplay mechanics, which sparked the idea of taking it a step further by creating a battlefield experience with even greater depth and variation. That’s why we didn’t create only one map, but four challenging yet fun battlefields.’

The update has already made waves in the pro leagues, with teams adjusting their strategies to accommodate the new terrain and mechanics. The maps encourage players to think more critically about hero selection, positioning and timing.

‘With the diverse gameplay mechanics expanding the overall strategic depth of the Land of Dawn, our gamers are now encouraged and challenged to think more critically about how they can optimize their heroes’ abilities and characteristics based on the maps’ unique conditions. We also hope that they find excitement, especially now that the game can be approached with fresh tactical perspectives and new ways to experience MLBB,’ said Xie.

Balancing innovation with nostalgia was a key consideration in the redesign. Moonton ensured that while the maps introduced new mechanics, they remained intuitive and familiar to longtime players.

‘We understand that players around the world have deep emotional connections to the game, from the heroes they first used to the classic maps they’ve played on for years. So when introducing major updates, like the Annual Map Change, we make sure that the battlefield upgrades are intuitive and exciting. Each battlefield map only modifies one feature at a time, ensuring that the maps will still feel new yet familiar to the players,’ said Xie.

The update also reflects Moonton’s broader vision of keeping MLBB globally relevant while staying rooted in community feedback.

‘These upgrades are not just visual enhancements, but also a demonstration of how we continue to evolve MLBB to meet the expectations of both longtime fans and new players. By refreshing the map, we ensure that the gameplay experience remains dynamic, immersive, and aligned with our vision of keeping MLBB simple, competitive, and globally relevant. This is how we push the boundaries of what a mobile MOBA game can be, by staying rooted in our players’ voices and driven by the desire to make every match feel fresh, familiar, and distinctly MLBB,’ said Xie.

On the side of the team in the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) Philippines, the update has also had a major impact on how pro teams have tackled the current season with both teams and fans calling Season 16 the most competitive season of MPL Philippines yet.

“Sobrang naging malaki yung competitiveness this season dahil dun sa timing nung malaking update is mid-season. Ang hirap kasing mad-adjust. Mag-adjust ka sa new mechanics, sa new hero, mad-adjust ka pa ngayon sa mga mapa. Sobrang daming changes. Kung sinu yung nagkaroon talaga ng tamang timpla agad sa updates, sila yung magkakaroon ng advantage,’ said Aniel “Master the Basics (MTB)” Jiandani, head coach of Aurora Gaming, which is currently the top seed of the league.

Looking ahead, Moonton hopes the Annual Map Change will not only enrich the player experience but also inspire new ways to enjoy the game.

‘We hope players enjoy an enriching gaming experience with the newly introduced Annual Map Change. We also hope that they find excitement, especially now that the game can be approached with fresh tactical perspectives and new ways to experience MLBB. Ultimately, innovation in MLBB isn’t about changing for the sake of change. It’s about refining and reimagining familiar elements to keep the game dynamic, enjoyable, and aligned with our vision of being simple, straightforward, and impactful, all while honoring the nostalgia that keeps players coming back,’ said Xie.

Chanelle Avaricio held on to a precarious one-shot lead despite a grinding even-par 72, as Daniella Uy and Sarah Ababa closed in with gutsy rounds to set up a thrilling three-way battle heading into the final round of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship here Wednesday.

Avaricio, who lit up the course with a flawless 67 on Tuesday, struggled with her approach shots in Round 2, limiting her birdie chances and forcing her to lean on a sharp short game to salvage crucial pars.

‘My driving was good but I struggled with my second shots. I also had difficulties with my putting,’ said Avaricio, after stringing together 18 pars in a gritty round that kept her on top at 139.

Despite the challenges, the Forest Hills champion remains focused on staying present.

‘I’ll just be in the moment, hoping for a great day tomorrow,’ she said, emphasizing the mental aspect of competing under pressure.

Still, she knows it could all come down to the final holes.

‘Hopefully, the putts will drop,’ Avaricio added, acknowledging the fine margins in play at the challenging Del Monte Golf Club.

Tempering expectations, she opted to keep her sights grounded.

‘I’m not sure of my chances, but I’ll do my best,’ she said.

Uy, taking a break from the Taiwan tour, opted for a conservative approach on the tight, tree-lined layout, carding a 71 highlighted by two birdies and a lone bogey. Her steady play placed her just a stroke back at 140, setting up a compelling duel with Avaricio.

‘I’m not really thinking about scoring a repeat. I just want to focus on my game, trust the process and stay with my routine,’ said Uy, downplaying her chances despite being the defending champion at Del Monte.

She also stressed the need to block out distractions.

‘I’ll try not to get too distracted,’ she added, keeping her eyes firmly on the task at hand.

Uy credited her rivals for their deft touch around the greens, something she hopes to replicate.

‘They’re really good with their short game. I guess I also need to out my short game,’ she said with a smile.

Unlike the top two, Ababa went on the offensive, firing four birdies against two bogeys for a 70, pulling within two shots at 141 and putting herself firmly in the title hunt in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

‘Mas gumanda ang irons ko today compared sa first round. My ball control and placements were good and my putting remains steady,’ said Ababa, showing confidence in her improving form.

Fueled by a desire to bounce back from a tough playoff loss to Princess Superal at Caliraya Springs last August, the Davaoeña is also drawing strength from a special partnership.

‘Hindi ko iniisip ang laro ng mga kalaban. Basta ako, gusto ko lang mag-enjoy at relax ako kasi tatay ko din ang caddie ko,’ she said, referring to her father-caddie Edgar, a former tour pro.

Still, she knows where improvements are needed.

‘I just need to work on my driving,’ said Ababa.

Behind the leading trio, Kristine Fleetwood joined the chase with a 70 to move to 142, just three shots back. Meanwhile, Mafy Singson posted the day’s best round – a 69 – to vault into a three-way tie at 143 with Harmie Constantino (72) and local hopeful Velinda Castil (73).

Martina Miñoza, another homegrown talent, settled for a second straight 72 for a 144, while Florence Bisera – winner of two titles last month – continued to struggle, carding a 73 for a 146, leaving her seven shots behind Avaricio.

The Meralco Bolts ended their two-game skid in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup after pulling away late against the tough Blackwater Bossing, 105-96, Wednesday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meralco finally tallied their first win in the All-Filipino conference, rising to 1-2, while Blackwater dropped to 1-1.

Chris Newsome powered the Bolts with 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting off the bench. Cliff Hodge added 14 markers, while Brandon Bates and Allein Maliksi had 13 points apiece.

After close losses in their first two games, Meralco led by as much as 24 points, 65-41, in the third quarter against the young Blackwater squad.

But a 24-8 run by the Bossing sliced the deficit to single digit, 65-73, after a 4-pointer by RK Ilagan.

Ilagan continued to tow Blackwater back, as his triple pulled them to within three, 81-84, with 8:38 left in the game.

But a backbreaking 11-0 run broke the game wide open, turning the advantage to 14, 95-81, with 4:37 to go.

While Blackwater cut the lead to single digit several times down the stretch, they could not come closer than eight points.

Raymond Almazan tallied 12 points and eight rebounds for Meralco, while Aaron Black chipped in 11 markers.

Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 34 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals also off the bench, while Ilagan chipped in 22 points, three assists and two rebounds.

The Bolts will have a quick turnaround as they take on Barangay Ginebra on Friday at the same venue, while Blackwater will return to action next Friday against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Ynares Antipolo.

The Palawan Group of Companies reached a new milestone with the successful staging of its inaugural Marketing Summit, ‘Palawan NEXTGEN: Marketing in the Age of AI, CX and Innovation’ at Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig City.

The two-day summit united an elite roster of experts in finance, marketing, advertising, consumer research, technology and artificial intelligence. It featured leaders from global giants like Google and TikTok, industry pillars such as Bank of the Philippine Islands, and key government institutions including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The event became a high-impact exchange of ideas designed to shape the future of Palawan Group’s marketing strategies and reinforce its position at the forefront of innovation.

Karlo Casto, president and CEO of Palawan Group of Companies, described the summit as a catalyst for growth, collaboration and innovation among marketing professionals: ‘This summit is a platform for dialogue-a space where we can exchange ideas, learn from each other and build stronger strategies together. In today’s fast-moving environment, open collaboration is the key to staying effective and competitive.’

‘In this Marketing Summit, our first ever, our focus is clear: how to better embrace technological advancements and maximize new tools and new ways of thinking to serve our customers better. We are particularly looking at the power of artificial intelligence, and how AI can help us design better marketing strategies, run smarter promotions and create a more personalized and meaningful customer experience. Ultimately, every step we take and every innovation we drive is dedicated to one purpose: creating more value for our Sukis,’ Castro shared.

On the first day, under the theme ‘Foundations of Growth: Finance Industry and Consumer Trends,’ Palawan Group set the stage with powerhouse discussions that deepened its grasp of macroeconomic forces, financial inclusion, consumer behavior and breakthrough opportunities for innovation across life stages.

The program went beyond surface insights, examining shifts in market dynamics, the fast-changing media habits of younger generations, and the rising expectations in financial services. These insights laid a bold and future-ready foundation for Palawan Group’s next-generation strategies as it continues to advance its innovative brick-tech model, seamlessly combining the strength of over 3,500 Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala branches with the digital reach of PalawanPay, now trusted by more than 21 million users.

On the second day, under the theme ‘AI: The Future of Palawan Marketing,’ highlighted how artificial intelligence is transforming the finance and marketing landscape.

Sessions covered AI’s role in enhancing customer experience, creative campaigns and product innovation, with discussions on emerging technologies from global platforms and solution providers. The talks showcased Palawan Group’s bold vision to harness AI as a game-changing force that will transform the way it connects with and serves millions of Sukis nationwide and even globally.

In his concluding speech, Palawan Group chief marketing officer Bernard Kaibigan urged the participants to pause and reflect on the summit’s key takeaways: ‘Over the past two days, we did not just talk about trends, AI and customer experience. We reimagined the future of financial services, and more importantly, the role that the Palawan Group of Companies will play in shaping that future for millions of Filipinos. With over 3,500 branches and more than 21 million users in our app, we are not just witnesses to change, we are the drivers of it.’

With finance insights and AI-driven innovation at its core, the Palawan Group of Companies Marketing Summit 2025 paved the way for bolder strategies, stronger consumer connections and a future-ready organization. Beyond keynotes and panel discussions, the event fostered collaboration across Palawan Group’s marketing, sales, operations, customer service and management teams-creating a dynamic space where fresh ideas could flourish.

By blending industry leaders’ expertise with the company’s commitment to innovation, the event became a defining milestone that reinforced the company’s vision of growth, innovation and customer-focused service. And at the heart of it all lies the company’s mission: maximizing technology and innovation not for their own sake, but to deliver greater financial inclusion, deeper value and more meaningful service to its Sukis.

Moderate aftershocks of magnitudes 5.8 and 5.2 yesterday rocked the town of Manay in Davao Oriental, where a powerful ‘doublet earthquake’ occurred last week, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the magnitude 5.8 aftershock occurred at 10 a.m. with its epicenter located 101 kilometers northeast of Manay.

Instrumental Intensity 1 was registered in Davao City and Digos in Davao del Sur, Malita and Sta. Maria in Davao Occidental, Nabunturan in Davao de Oro and Malungon (Sarangani).

The second aftershock occurred at 10:39 a.m. with its epicenter located 25 kilometers northeast of Manay.

Instrumental Intensity 2 was recorded in Nabunturan.

As of noon yesterday, state seismologists had recorded 1,303 aftershocks, 618 of which were plotted and 18 felt, with magnitudes ranging from 1.2 to 5.8.

President Marcos on Monday visited Davao Oriental, bringing with him additional relief assistance to the earthquake victims.

Marcos assured local chief executives that aid would continue until every earthquake-displaced family recovers, according to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

Marcos and Gatchalian checked the condition of families staying in evacuation centers in Tarragona.

Aside from food packs, some families received P10,000 each in cash assistance.

Gatchalian gave assurance that the DSWD would continue to assist all people affected by quakes and typhoons that recently battered several areas in the country.

Meanwhile, entry into one of the oldest buildings of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) has been restricted as a safety precaution.

‘Following an assessment conducted by ADDU structural engineers and officials of the Office of the City Building, Finster Hall has been placed under restricted use as a safety precaution,’ the Ateneo de Davao said in a statement.

Finster Hall is one of the university’s oldest and most storied buildings. It has withstood several disasters.

‘This temporary restriction gives us the chance to care for and ensure the continued safety of Finster Hall so it may remain as a space for learning, formation and community life for generations of Ateneans to come,’ the university said.

Results of the assessment showed that the structural integrity of the building remained intact. The ongoing work would focus only on repairs to architectural and auxiliary components of the hall, it added.

In a memorandum, Ateneo de Davao president Fr. Karel San Juan said that learning and work will remain asynchronous in all units from Oct. 11 to 18, to allow flexibility and recovery, especially for those whose homes or families were affected by the earthquake.

UAE aids Cebu quake victims

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent assistance to approximately 40,000 families displaced by the 6.9 earthquake that struck the northern part of Cebu.

The delivery of relief assistance was facilitated by the UAE embassy in coordination with relevant agencies and local authorities, and in support of government efforts to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

‘The UAE’s response reflects the country’s humanitarian efforts and its global commitment toward communities impacted by natural disasters and crises. It also underscores UAE’s dedication to alleviating humanitarian suffering, accelerating early recovery and reinforcing stability,’ the embassy said.