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Call it a Van Sickle show.

Brooke the player, dad Gary as coach and mom Lisa as the assistant coach played their roles marking the Petro Gazz Angels’ emphatic 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 victory over Galeries Tower to start their campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite yesterday.

‘You’re the man of the hour,’ Brooke, who fired a match-high 14 points, told his father after the win.

‘It was a full circle moment and I’m going to try to enjoy every game, every point with them again and be coached by my parents again,’ she added.

‘We came out a little slow but overall, it was a team effort,’ said Gary, who took over from interim mentor Brian Esquivel.

Lindsey Vander Weide unloaded 13 hits on her return to the same franchise she led to the title of this same conference three years ago.

And she liked what she saw from their team.

‘We have a lot of depth, anybody can step in and make a difference so that makes me really comfortable with them,’ said the 2022 Reinforced Conference Best Foreign Player.

There is hope that Vander Weide, along with the Van Sickles, could help the squad reclaim the championship it last won three years before.

And this win was a good first step towards that goal.

‘It’s going to be tough but we’ll see,’ said Vander Weide.

MJ Phillips, back after her Alas Pilipinas stint, likewise delivered, chipping in 12 hits.

The result spoiled the debut of Galeries Tower bench tactician Godfrey Okumu, who succeeded Lerma Giron.

A new trade may be coming for Barangay Ginebra.

This after Mav Ahanmisi admitted that he requested to be traded from the Gin Kings.

In a vlog posted on his YouTube account Tuesday, the nine-year PBA veteran said he requested a trade ‘for the first time’ during the offseason.

‘It was kind of stressful for me because I took a pretty big step last night and I did actually request for a trade for the first time,’ the 34-year-old guard said.

‘I don’t know how people are going to take it, man,’ he said. But to be honest, I like my teammates. I’m cool with everybody on that team. I appreciate the fans. I even appreciate the [expletive] that don’t [expletive]with me. That’s just the honest truth,’ he added.

‘But as a player, you want the opportunity to play and showcase your talent.’

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.

Ginebra’s backcourt is crowded with reigning Rookie of the Year RJ Abarrientos, former Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson and do-it-all guard Stephen Holt.

‘So it’s kind of a fine line between like being patient and waiting your turn. But I just turned 34 last month. I am now on, like, the back half of my career. There’s not much time to waste for me,’ Ahanmisi said in the vlog.

‘So these are the times as a pro that you have to make decisions that are going to benefit you because at the end of the day, this is a business. You have to think about yourself. As selfish as it sounds, you’re going to have to do those things for you and your family.

‘And a lot of people are not going to like that decision most of the time. But if it benefits you and your family and you do it in a respectful and proper way, nobody can really knock you for that.’

Later in the vlog, the one-time PBA champion received a call from his agent, who brought the news that he was ‘cleared to get traded.’

‘I didn’t ever want to like leave Ginebra, but like I said, it’s something that I have to do for myself as well as my family. But I’m excited for this new journey. Glad I could bring you guys along.’

Ahanmisi did not play in Ginebra’s opening-day loss to the Magnolia Hotshots.

Florence Bisera heads into the ICTSI Del Monte Championship unfolding Tuesday, October 14, brimming with confidence, riding a wave of momentum and a game trending steadily upward.

Fresh off a sensational back-to-back performance last month – a dramatic come-from-behind win in Negros Occidental followed by a breakthrough international triumph in Thailand – the rising Davaoeña star has emerged as one of the hottest names on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

Yet, despite her recent surge, the reigning Match Play champion remains grounded, adopting a measured approach despite being the player to beat this week.

Her humility belies a lethal combination of form, confidence and competitive fire – one that has caught the attention of the entire field.

With a P1-million purse and another shot at glory at stake, Bisera steps into the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon as a marked player, the centerpiece of a compact and determined field.

Bisera’s recent string of victories has not only elevated her status but also raised the stakes. Her dramatic finish in Negros Occidental showcased her ability to handle pressure, while her overseas win in Thailand proved she could rise to the occasion beyond home turf – a critical milestone for any player with aspirations for the global stage.

A win at Del Monte would solidify her standing as the new force in Philippine women’s golf and mark her third consecutive title, a feat that would underscore her readiness to dominate the tour.

But standing in her way is a loaded cast of elite challengers.

Chief among them is Daniella Uy, the reigning Del Monte champion and LPGA of Taiwan campaigner, who’s eager to bounce back after a lukewarm finish in Negros. A return to a familiar venue could be just what she needs to reignite her game and defend her crown.

Joining the fray are other proven winners: Chanelle Avaricio, Mafy Singson, Sarah Ababa, Chihiro Ikeda and Harmie Constantino – each one capable of delivering a title-worthy performance.

Marvi Monsalve, making her LPGT comeback, is another name to watch, along with young gun Tiffany Lee, looking to recapture her form from a brilliant pro debut at Splendido Taal.

Local knowledge could also come into play, with Bukidnon natives Martina Miñoza, Velinda Castil, Pamela Mariano, and amateur Zero Plete expected to leverage their familiarity with the demanding mountain-top course.

Also seeking their moment in the spotlight in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. are Kayla Nocum, Angela Mangana, Leslie Icoy, Rev Alcantara, Gretchen Villacencio, Apple Fudolin, Kristine Fleetwood, Korean Eunhua Nam and Eva Miñoza.

Still, focus will be on Bisera, whose poise and grit have begun to set her apart. With each round, she continues to mature not just as a competitor, but as a potential face of LPGT. If she keeps her current trajectory, the spotlight won’t just be local – it could very well extend to the regional and international stage.

For now, though, all eyes are on Del Monte – and whether Bisera can complete her hat trick.

First Balfour Inc., the Lopez Group’s construction and engineering arm, has adopted an AI-powered construction management system (CMS) that integrates into a single platform the planning, execution and monitoring of its projects for faster and more efficient management.

In acquiring the CMS software, First Balfour reached a new milestone by becoming the first construction company in the Philippines to harness the capabilities of Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) with AI-powered cost management and advanced analytics dashboards.

‘In the past, it took days or even weeks to gather project information. Now, with this platform, everyone can be online in just minutes,’ said Rey Villar, First Balfour managing director for construction operations. ‘The launch of the CMS stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to driving excellence, advancing innovation, and shaping the future of construction.’

First Balfour announced its adoption of the CMS on Sept. 16, 2025, following its agreement with CIM Technologies Inc. for First Balfour’s use of the ACC. CIM Technologies, a leading Philippine provider of design automation technology solutions, is authorized to offer the ACC.

Anthony Fernandez, First Balfour vice chairman and chief executive officer, explained that the launch of the CMS, along with First Balfour’s partnership with Autodesk and CIM Technologies, represents the company’s ‘first major step in adopting cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance project management and operational efficiency.’

United States President Donald Trump has nominated Lee Lipton as the new US ambassador to the Philippines.

Lipton’s nomination was sent to the US Senate for confirmation, the White House said yesterday.

‘Lee Lipton, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of the Philippines,’ according to the announcement.

Lipton, the first non-career American diplomat to be appointed to Manila, is reportedly Trump’s golf buddy.

Once confirmed, Lipton will succeed Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, who began her term on July 22, 2022.

Lipton currently serves as Interim Permanent Representative to the US Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS).

According to his US Department of State profile, Lipton manages staff operations, financial resources and interagency coordination at the OAS to advance US foreign policy priorities in the western hemisphere.

In this role, Lipton supports US engagement on a range of regional challenges, including the deteriorating security situation in Haiti and efforts to counter malign influence – particularly from the Chinese Communist Party – within the Inter-American system.

Before joining the government, Lipton funded and led a successful apparel business in New York City.

He oversaw the design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of licensed collections for globally recognized brands, such as Calvin Klein, St. John Knits and Guess.

After selling his company to a publicly traded firm, he transitioned into the hospitality industry, owning several oceanfront restaurants.

His landmark restaurants remain among the highest-volume establishments in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Lipton holds a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University.

He and his wife of 45 years have two sons.

Taylor Swift continues to make huge waves with her newest album “The Life of a Showgirl.”

On the day of its release, “The Life of a Showgirl” became the most-streamed album in a single day in 2025 on Spotify so far, doing so in less than 12 hours.

Meanwhile, lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” became the most-streamed song in a single day in the platform’s history.

The latter record was previously held by Taylor herself through “Fortnight” with Post Malone from her “The Tortured Poets Department” album last year, which had been streamed more than 25 million times in one day – breaking the three-year record held by Adele’s “Easy On Me.”

Not only did “The Life of a Showgirl” top Spotify’s Top Albums Debut Global chart, the ten spots of the platform’s Top Song Debut Global chart were claimed by tracks from the album.

The two songs that missed the cut from the 12-track album were “Ruin the Friendship” and “Honey,” but all 12 songs are expected to dominate the Billboard Top 100 once that chart refreshes for a new week.

“The Fate of Ophelia” broke yet another Spotify record last October 9 by becoming the most-streamed song in a single week in the platform’s history, with an extra day to spare to complete the whole week.

The previous holder of the latter record was Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” which earned 101,838,799 streams in its debut, the first song to reach a hundred million streams faster than any other song.

Before that it was BTS’ “Butter” which 99.37 million stream in its first week, then hit a hundred million on its eighth day.

Officials immediately canceled classes in all schools in Central Mindanao after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake jolted provinces and cities across southern Mindanao on Friday morning, October 10.

Emergency responders from the office of Kidapawan City Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista promptly transported more than 30 students from the Kidapawan City National High School and nearby campuses to hospitals due to dizziness and other discomfort following the tremor, which caused widespread panic among residents.

Kidapawan City, which has more than 40 barangays, is the capital of Cotabato province in Region 12 – more than a hundred kilometers north of Cotabato City, the seat of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) – where the earthquake was also felt.

‘Our engineers reported that there were no damages to school buildings in our city. We are monitoring the condition of the patients in all hospitals here, too,’ Evangelista said, as he went around school campuses in Kidapawan City.

Evangelista and Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao both suspended classes in all barangays under their local government units.

Friday morning’s earthquake, whose epicenter was traced to Manay town in Davao Oriental, shook cities and towns in Mindanao’s adjoining Regions 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Rescue teams from the Cotabato City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and emergency responders from the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region have been on standby, anticipating possible aftershocks.

The quake was also felt in the Bangsamoro region’s adjoining Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte provinces in Central Mindanao.

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck offshore of Davao Oriental on Friday, October 10, at 9:43 a.m., prompting the issuance of a tsunami warning for affected coastal areas.

Phivolcs said the earthquake’s epicenter was located at coordinates 7.09°N, 127.09°E, approximately 44 kilometers northeast of Manay town in Davao Oriental. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers beneath the seabed.

The agency initially reported the earthquake as magnitude 7.6, but later revised this in a subsequent bulletin to be 7.5, before it was again revised to 7.4.

Intensity. The earthquake was strongly felt across multiple provinces, with Intensity V shaking reported in Davao City and Intensity IV in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.

Instrumental readings recorded Intensity V tremors in several areas including Hinunangan in Southern Leyte, Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, Nabunturan in Davao de Oro, Davao City, Santa Maria in Davao Occidental, Kidapawan City in Cotabato, and multiple municipalities in Sarangani and South Cotabato provinces.

Intensity IV shaking was recorded across a wider area spanning Cebu City, parts of Eastern Samar and Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Tsunami warning. A tsunami warning has also been issued by Phivolcs to coastal communities regarding potential tsunami waves.

Phivolcs is warning of destructive tsunami waves with life-threatening heights. Based on local tsunami scenario databases, affected areas are expected to experience wave heights of more than one meter above normal tides, with potentially higher waves in enclosed bays and straits.

The first tsunami waves were forecasted to arrive between 9:43 a.m. and 11:43 a.m. and these waves may continue for hours.

Residents in coastal areas of the following provinces are strongly advised to move further inland or to elevated areas:

Eastern Samar

Southern Leyte

Leyte

Dinagat Islands

Surigao del Norte

Surigao del Sur

Davao Oriental

Boat owners in harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal waters of these provinces should secure their vessels and move away from the waterfront immediately. Boats already at sea are advised to stay offshore in deep waters until further notice.

Punong byanSen. Win Gatchalian, chair of the Senate finance committee, has vowed to boost defense spending by almost doubling the country’s defense budget by 2028.

He said the defense allocation should reach two percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), aligning the Philippines with international standards set by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO countries.

‘As long as I am the chairman of the Senate finance committee, I will commit to reach that two percent by 2028,’ Gatchalian declared during the budget hearing for the Department of National Defense (DND) and its attached agencies on Tuesday.

Currently, defense spending stands at 1.19 percent of the country’s GDP, leaving a shortfall of about P190 billion to meet the two percent benchmark.

Gatchalian emphasized that this target is achievable given the country’s robust economic and revenue growth.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro identified deterrence and long-range capabilities, air defense systems and strategic basing infrastructure as the top priorities to strengthen the country’s defense posture.

He noted that increased defense spending reduces political risks and strengthens investor confidence, which Gatchalian agreed with during the DND’s budget deliberation, stressing that ‘a stronger defense ultimately builds a stronger economy.’

During the hearing, uncompleted and unusable infrastructure projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways were also uncovered.

Gatchalian and other members of the Senate finance committee thus agreed to scrap the agency’s Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad Program funds and transfer its P3-billion allocation directly to the DND for 2026.

Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson shook off a rough preseason start, and the New York Knicks followed his lead.

Clarkson came off the bench to spark a fourth-quarter rally as the Knicks outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves, 100-95, in overtime Thursday night (Friday Philippine time) to stay perfect through three preseason games.

The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year delivered exactly what coach Mike Brown had been waiting for – poise, pace and shot creation from the second unit. With the Knicks’ starters sluggish and out of rhythm, Brown challenged his reserves to swing the momentum, and they answered.

‘I challenged the second group because I thought their first time around, they held onto the ball too much and our spacing wasn’t good,’ Brown said. ‘Their second time around, they were really good.’

Down 71-63 entering the fourth, the Knicks’ bench opened with a 15-3 run capped by a Clarkson layup to grab the lead. The 33-year-old guard then hustled for a loose ball that turned into an extra possession, setting up an Ariel Hukporti dunk that gave New York an 82-80 edge with just under six minutes left.

Minnesota refused to go quietly, tying the game in the final seconds when Vietnamese-American Johnny Juzang floated in a jumper to force overtime. But New York’s third unit slammed the door, starting the extra frame with an 8-0 burst to finish off the Timberwolves and secure Brown’s first unofficial win at the Madison Square Garden.

Clarkson finished with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes. He didn’t commit a turnover and turned a minus-3 rating entering the fourth quarter into a plus-7 by the end. Miles McBride added 10 points off the bench as well.

The Knicks’ top group continued to sputter. Mikal Bridges scored 15 points on 50 percent shooting, but the All-NBA pairing of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined to hit just six of 25 shots for 21 points. Brown brushed off the rough offensive night.

‘I thought we had some great looks,’ he said. ‘We just didn’t knock them down tonight.’

Former Knicks forward Julius Randle scored 16 for Minnesota, nine coming in the first quarter. Anthony Edwards carried the Timberwolves early with 17 points, 14 of them in the first half, helping the visitors control the pace until the Knicks’ depth wore them down late.

Brown said he hasn’t installed much of the Knicks’ new system yet, preferring to let players rely on reads and instincts while the offense takes shape. The defense, he added, has been ahead of schedule.

‘Usually when you have a new coach or a new system, the defense is a little ahead of the offense,’ Brown said. ‘We’re long, athletic and intelligent, and we’ve been doing a pretty good job with what we call shifting. We loosened up a couple of times, but overall, against a talented scoring team like that, our guys weren’t bad. Their second time around, they were really good.’

At 3-0, the Knicks will look to keep their preseason momentum. They will have two more games – against the Washington Wizards on October 13 and the Charlotte Hornets on October 17 – before their season tips off against the Eastern Conference favorites Cleveland Cavaliers on October 22.