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Prior to their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup opening game, NLEX Road Warriors team governor Ronald Dulatre said the team is eyeing to ‘raise the bar’ this season and go deeper in the playoffs.

On Wednesday, the squad shared a glimpse of what they are capable of.

Playing without star guard Robert Bolick, whose dad passed away a few days ago, NLEX delivered an early upset in the All-Filipino conference after squeaking past the defending champions San Miguel Beermen, 85-84, at the Ynares center in Antipolo.

Brandon Ramirez and Jonnel Policarpio stepped up for the Road Warriors with 16 points apiece. The former had six rebounds and three assists, while the latter shot 6-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.

Kevin Alas chipped in 13 points, five rebounds and two steals, while JB Bahio added 12 markers and 12 boards.

After the game, Policarpio and head coach Jong Uichico said they are dedicating the win to Bolick, who was supposed to play against San Miguel before ‘something happened that he had to leave right away.’

‘Alam naman namin na you know, malaking epekto ng laro ni Berto sa amin. It was a collective effort ng lahat in the absence of Berto. We’re trying to dedicate this game to Berto, whose father passed away. He was supposed to play today before leaving, pero we understand naman,’ Uichico told reporters.

‘He wants to be with his father for the last time. Medyo may motivational factor kami in today’s game,’ he added.

Without the spitfire guard, NLEX trailed by as much as 13 points, 43-56, in the third quarter after a pair of free throws by newly-crowned Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.

The Beermen still held a 12-point advantage at 66-54, before a 14-1 run capped by a Policarpio gave the Road Warriors the lead, 68-67, early in the fourth quarter.

Slowly, NLEX kept the Beermen at bay, as a pair of free throws by Bahio gave them an 85-80 lead with about 17 seconds left.

Don Trollano, then, hit a booming 4-pointer to make it a one point game, 84-85.

After Bahio was fouled anew and missed both free throws, San Miguel had one final shot to go for the win, but Trollano hesitated from beyond the arc and drove the ball to the basket. And, as he kicked it out, he turned the ball over, icing the NLEX win.

‘Dine-dedicate ko yung laro para kay Kuya Berto. Alam naman natin yung nangyari, kaya Kuya Bert, be strong,’ Policarpio said.

The forward also thanked his team for the trust that was given to him, as he scored 12 of his total offensive output in the second half.

Uichico, meanwhile, tipped his hat to the players that stepped up.

‘Everybody stepped up e. Si Baser [Amer,] si Matt [Nieto,] lahat ng napasok ko, contributed to the best of their ability. So hindi lang isa, hindi lang dalawa, pero lahat because we had to make up the absence of Berto nga,’ he stressed.

‘Alam naman namin na hindi madali ang San Miguel, so we just tried to stay in the game as much as we can, yung striking distance, huwag lang lumaki masyado yung lamang,’ he added.

‘Hopefully, through the game, maka-streak kami, which we did. Na-timing lang yung tamang tama yung run namin at the end na konti na lang yung oras. But of course, yung mga player ng NLEX, maski anong mangyari, lalaban lang sila.’

Fajardo stood tall for San Miguel with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Don Trollano backstopped with 17, while Jericho Cruz provided 12 markers for the Beermen.

The Road Warriors will return to action on Sunday, as they take on the Terrafirma Dyip at the same venue.

The Office of the Ombudsman has launched another investigation of former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia in connection with the cancellation of a 20-year water supply contract, which reportedly resulted in higher water rates.

In a two-page order dated Sept. 25, the ombudsman gave Garcia 10 days from receipt of notice to file her counter-affidavit and documentary evidence.

Garcia was directed to furnish the complainants, led by a certain Aileen Rama Donal, with a copy of her affidavit and documentary evidence.

The complainants were given the option to submit their reply within 10 days from receipt of Garcia’s counter-affidavit.

The ombudsman said Garcia’s failure to comply within the prescribed period would be deemed as a waiver of her rights, and the preliminary investigation will proceed according to existing rules on procedures.

In July, state prosecutors suspended Garcia for one year without pay for issuing a permit to a quarry operator without requiring an environmental compliance certificate.

But since Garcia is no longer in office, the ombudsman said the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to her basic salary for six months.

The new investigation was for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for committing administrative offenses of grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by Donal on July 25.

Donal alleged that Garcia was behind the premature cancellation of the 20-year bulk water supply contract signed between the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) and Cebu Manila Water Development Inc. (CMWD) in December 2013.

The complainant said the termination of the contract between the CMWD and the MCWD led to an emergency procurement arrangement between the MCWD and the provincial government.

Donal said the contract was replaced by a new deal between the MCWD and the Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc., which allegedly resulted in the increase of water rates from P24.59 to P58 per cubic meter.

The Cebu City Council has appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter (IBP-CCC) to begin constructing a judiciary complex on a lot donated by the city government at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The appeal was made through a resolution approved by the council following a privilege speech by Councilor Sisinio Andales, himself a lawyer. His speech came a day after a joint inspection by the city government found the Qimonda IT Center-which currently houses the city’s courts-unsafe for occupancy.

A joint team from the Office of the Building Official (OBO), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), and structural engineers from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) assessed that the building poses serious risks to both the public and its employees, recommending its immediate evacuation.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, along with other court officials, also inspected the Qimonda IT Center on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

The structure sustained severe damage from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30.

In his speech, Andales recalled that the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice at the Capitol compound was also declared unsafe after the 2013 earthquake. This forced the transfer of all 30 Cebu City trial courts to the privately owned Qimonda IT Center, for which the SC has reportedly been paying around P1.2 million in monthly rent.

‘Although functional, it was far from being an ideal one,’ Andales said.

He added that the Supreme Court had long expressed its intention to build a dedicated judiciary complex equipped with modern and comfortable courtrooms in Cebu. In 2019, then-mayor Tomas Osmeña, representing the Cebu City Government, and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez signed a deed of donation for a 1.5-hectare lot at the SRP for the project, which was envisioned to house all courts in Cebu City, including the Court of Appeals.

However, despite the urgent need for improved court facilities, Andales said the plan has remained unimplemented, leaving the courts still operating in Qimonda. He added that the monthly rent has since increased to at least P1.4 million.

‘The dream of a judiciary complex-secure, accessible, and dignified-remains only on paper,’ he said.

In his appeal, Andales urged the Supreme Court to coordinate with the IBP-Cebu Chapter, the Executive Judge, and the Office of Mayor Nestor Archival to begin utilizing the donated SRP lot and start the construction of the judiciary building.

He also proposed redirecting the monthly rental payments for the Qimonda IT Center toward funding the project’s initial construction phase.

‘Let us show the people of Cebu that justice is not only served-it is housed in a place that reflects its importance,’ Andales said.

‘This is not merely a matter of infrastructure; it is a matter of institutional respect. Our judges, our lawyers, our litigants, and our citizens deserve a space that honors the gravity of law and the sanctity of due process,’ he added.

Following his appeal, the council approved Andales’ motion calling on the Supreme Court and the IBP-Cebu Chapter, among others, to begin constructing the judiciary complex.

The IBP-Cebu City Chapter already passed a resolution appealing to the SC to expedite the construction of the long-awaited judiciary complex at the SRP.

‘A purpose-built, secure, and properly managed court facility is indispensable to the efficient administration of justice and aligns squarely with the goals of the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), particularly its pillars of judicial efficiency, access, and innovation,’ the IBP-CCC statement read.

It was earlier reported that in 2010, the city’s legislative body passed a resolution approving the donation of a 7,123-square-meter lot at the northeast side of the SRP for the Court of Appeals-Cebu Station building. Both the Supreme Court and the city government formalized this through a Memorandum of Agreement that same year.

The 15,000-square-meter property designated for the judiciary complex is located at the southwest portion of the SRP, identified as Lot 9 of the Consolidated Subdivision Plan.

Back to square one.

It came to be after the Premier Volleyball League ordered a replay of the Reinforced Conference opening matches that pitted ZUS Coffee with Akari and Choco Mucho with Capital1 Tuesday at the Ynares Center Montalban.

The decision was made after the pro league finally received yesterday the International Transfer Certificates of all its imports and Fil-foreign players, who all can now play for their respective squads starting today.

The league re-start features Galeries Tower battling Petro Gazz at 4 p.m. and Farm Fresh tackling Nxled at 6:30 p.m. at the City of Dasmariñas.

Without the ITCs the day before, the PVL was forced to push through with its opening-day schedule minus the international players.

It ended with ZUS and Choco Mucho ending up as winners.

But all of that will be stricken off the books following the recent developments.

British singer Louis Tomlinson honored his late fellow One Direction member Liam Payne ahead of the latter’s first death anniversary, saying he and other band members looked up to him during their time together.

Liam died last October 16 after falling from a window in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old.

Louis told The Rolling Stone UK he found it “really, really, impossibly difficult” with Liam’s passing.

“Naively, I thought that because at this point, I’m relatively well versed in grief for my age, that it might soften the blow,” Louis said. “[That was] super-naive. It’s very different. I’e never lost a friend before.”

The two formed One Direction with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik (who departed the group a year before One Direction’s 2016 hiatus) and last July marked the boy band’s 15th anniversary but the first without Liam.

The milestone was “really uncomfortable” for Louis but still found it “more important than ever” to recognize it on behalf of his late friend.

He admitted that previous anniversaries made him “sick of nostalgia” though the most recent one hit differently with Liam gone.

“You know, there’s still a level in my head [where it feels] unjust and frustrating that he’s not with us anymore,” Louis continued. “So, it just brought up those feelings, although I’m still living with them anyway.”

Louis said Liam had the “safest pair of hands” among the One Direction members as the latter had some entertainment experience already.

“None of us would have admitted it at the time, because you have a lot of pride as a young lad, but we all looked up to him like that,” Louis added.

Meanwhile, on the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, Louis shared that he learned of Liam’s passing through a phone call from Niall.

Louis compared knowing the news to the death of his teenage sister Félicité back in 2019, “I think anyone has this when they’re around someone who’s struggling – my 150% wasn’t nearly enough.”

“And that’s when it’s my own arrogance thinking that I could have helped really, because it was so much deeper than what I could have done for him,” Louis continued.

“He was definitely struggling at that time in his life.”

The singer recalled the tribute post he made for Liam following his passing, explaining he wanted Liam to be remembered “the way that he should be remembered.”

“I could just go on and talk all day about how amazing he was, but I think we all looked up to him,” he reiterated. “I don’t think we would have been brave enough to say at that age when I was in the band, I think I would’ve had too much pride, but we all looked up to him massively.”

Liam’s funeral brought back all members of One Direction, including Zayn, together for the first time since the group went on hiatus.

Louis is set to release his third album “How Did I Get Here?” and promote it with a world tour, and will reunite with Zayn for a Netflix roadtrip documentary series.

Perpetual Help sustained its hot start in NCAA Season 101 basketballl tournament, stunning title-holder Mapua, 75-65, at the Filoil EcoOil Arena yesterday.

It was the third win in a row for UPHSD that put the team on top in Group A.

But despite their early success, UPHSD coach Olsen Racela was quick to caution his players that they still have a long way to go.

‘It’s a big victory but the league is just starting and anything can happen,’ said Racela.

The Altas did it with defense as they held former league MVP Clint Escamis to just six points while completely shutting down the Cardinals in the last five and a half minutes to steal the win.

During that scintillating stretch of defensive brilliance, UPHSD managed to score 10 points, half of which came from JP Boral, who ended up with a team-best 15 points.

In the other game, St. Benilde clobbered Letran, 95-80, to improve to 2-1. The Knights dropped to 0-3.

Host Centro Escolar U hopes to make the opening of the PG Flex-Universities and Colleges Athletic League Season 8 memorable as it defends its street dance title today at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

After the short opening ceremony starting at 11 a.m., all nine member schools are to showcase their dazzling footwork, creativity and style in the street dance competition serving as the highlight of the traditional opening-day show.

But all eyes will be on the Scorpions who have prepared long and hard for a chance to win a second straight title and set in motion their campaign in other events including the centerpiece basketball competition after a failed three-peat bid last season.

The San Beda Lions program has tirelessly searched abroad for one talent they hope would end up as the key to unlocking their NCAA championship aspirations.

They found one in the Bay Area, California in athletic wing Janti Miller.

Miller has been carrying most of the load for San Beda in its first two wins, and he is expected to do more when they battle an unpredictable Jose Rizal University in NCAA Season 101 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

With the 21-year-old, 6-foot-4 Miller doing most of the damage, the Lions have bested a pair of contenders in the College of St. Benilde Blazers and the Letran Knights and should remain unbeaten and atop Group B with another win over the Bombers (1-1) in their 2:30 p.m. duel.

Miller was nothing less than spellbinding in his first two outings, where he averaged a team-high 19 points.

And what’s more impressive was he had done all that off the bench.

‘I’m very impressed that despite his talent and caliber, he has accepted the role,’ said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta of Miller.

The Bombers aren’t one to just back away that easily as they’ve shown ability to pull the rug from fancied teams as evidenced by their shock triumph over the Letran Knights.

Also seeing action at 12 p.m. are Lyceum of the Philippines University (0-2) and San Sebastian (0-2).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of P716.15 million to help replenish the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) disaster response funds.

The funds will replenish the DSWD’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) specifically, which is meant to be used for emergency situations such as the recent earthquake in Cebu.

Once an agency’s QRF falls below a 50% threshold, it can be replenished.

‘This replenishment helps guarantee the DSWD can continue to provide food, shelter, and cash aid to families when they need it most,’ said DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in a statement.

The DBM said the additional QRFs will fund the DSWD’s procurement of food packs and non-food items, which can support up to 424,681 families.

The replenishment will also help fund emergency cash transfers to 41,502 families affected by the recent cyclones that hit the country.

The additional funds will also help cover logistical costs, the DBM added.

The amount will be charged against the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund for 2025.

When the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu in September, the DBM said that there was still around P8 billion in the NDRRM fund that agencies could replenish their QRFs from.

Instead of delivering it on the dot, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival opted to make his first 100 days in office report on October 16, 2025, with only members of the media invited as guests at City Hall.

The Cebu City Information Office confirmed the schedule, noting that while other local chief executives traditionally deliver their 100-day accomplishment reports on time through a State of the City Address (SOCA), Archival saved it for a later date to provide a more comprehensive update on the city’s affairs since assuming office.

The report is expected to highlight Archival administration’s progress on his campaign promises and the programs he outlined when he took office as the city’s top official.

A look back at Archival’s campaign promises

Upon winning the mayoralty race during the May 2025 elections, Archival pledged to fulfill several campaign promises within his first 100 days in office.

Among his top priorities is finding ways to increase Cebu City’s revenue-not by raising taxes, but by improving collection efficiency, which he said is vital for sustaining City Hall’s operations.

He also vowed to streamline City Hall processes to shorten the turnaround time for frontline services, including the implementation of a system allowing business permits to be issued within the same day.

Regarding the highly disputed Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), Archival promised to complete the facility within one year to expand its services and coverage. He emphasized the need for coordination among contractors and consultants and underscored the importance of a construction audit.

Another initiative included in his first 100 days is the installation of public drinking water fountains across the city, part of his campaign to promote the use of refillable tumblers over bottled water. The measure aligns with his environmental advocacy to reduce plastic waste and curb the rising costs associated with disposable bottles.

When he took his oath of office, Archival vowed to make Cebu City ‘number one again.’ In line with this goal, he outlined several priority programs to realize that vision.

Among them is the reopening of the Cebu City Library for 24/7 operations, a project initiated by then-Mayor, now Vice Mayor, Tomas Osmeña during his previous term.

Archival’s administration also plans to open the road network from IT Park to Banilad, in coordination with Cebu Provincial Governor Pamela Baricuatro. With the onset of heavy rains, Archival has directed the Department of Public Services (DPS) to desilt the city’s rivers.

He also aims to address the city’s long-standing garbage collection woes, noting that Cebu City spends around P600 million annually on garbage collection while earning only P100 million in revenue-resulting in a major budget deficit.

To curb this, Archival intends to reduce landfill waste by converting garbage into fertilizer and promoting recycling to lower costs. He said City Hall will serve as the benchmark for segregation and that a cement company has expressed interest in purchasing the city’s recyclable waste. Barangay officials will also be mobilized to enforce segregation policies at the community level.

Archival further plans to promote local food production, pointing out that 60 percent of Cebu City’s food supply comes from outside the city and is mostly imported. He vowed to promote sustainable farming to boost self-sufficiency.

Additionally, Archival wants to expand the city’s scholarship system, shifting from exam-based selection to automatic scholarship grants for all high school graduates.

On October 16, Archival is expected to present updates on these initiatives-highlighting both accomplishments and challenges encountered in the first 100 days of his term.