San Miguel Corp. Explains LA Tenorio's Transfer to Magnolia as Head Coach

San Miguel Corporation's sports director, Alfrancis Chua, has reached out to Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings fans to clarify the decision to transfer veteran point guard LA Tenorio to the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, where he will assume the role of head coach. Chua emphasized that it is time for the 41-year-old Tenorio, who has spent 13 years with the Gin Kings, to embark on a new chapter in his basketball career. "I said that LA is a leader. I hope the Ginebra fans can understand that LA Tenorio is moving to Magnolia as a head coach. We have to move on," Chua stated. He added, "At least, they will still get to see their idol playing in the PBA. Magnolia is a sister team, so I hope everyone can comprehend the management's decision." Tenorio is set to begin his new responsibilities with Magnolia in the Philippine Basketball Association's 50th season, which starts on October 5, 2025.

Alas Pilipinas Returns with Young Core for 5th SEA V.League in Thailand

The young talents of the Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball squad are gearing up for the upcoming 5th Southeast Asian (SEA) V.League first leg, which will take place from August 1 to 3 in Thailand. Key players Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Alyssa Solomon, and Shaina Nitura will rejoin the team for the regional tournament, accompanied by experienced veterans such as team captain Jia De Guzman and Eya Laure. This group previously showcased their skills in the AVC Nations Cup held in June, where the Philippines secured a historic silver medal. Notably, Canino was honored with the Best Outside Spiker award for her outstanding performance. Interestingly, Belen, Canino, Solomon, and Nitura were absent from the squad that participated in the VTV Cup in Vietnam last June, where the team finished in fourth place. Completing the roster for the SEA V.League are Vanie Gandler, Mars Alba, Dawn Catindig, Justine Jazareno, Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, Dell Palomata, Clarisse Loresco, and Fifi Sharma. Meanwhile, Fil-Am players Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, and Tia Andaya, who featured in the VTV Cup, will not be joining the lineup for this tournament. Alas Pilipinas will face strong regional opponents throughout the first leg of the SEA V.League, starting with Thailand on Friday, followed by Vietnam on Saturday, and concluding against Indonesia on Sunday. Under the guidance of coach Jorge Souza de Brito, the Philippine team earned back-to-back bronze medals in last year’s two legs of the SEA V.League and aims to build on that success with a more dynamic lineup this season.

Star-Studded Mixed Doubles Field Set for U.S. Open Tennis Tournament

The upcoming U.S. Open mixed doubles competition, scheduled to take place in New York next month, promises a high-profile lineup. The United States Tennis Association revealed on Tuesday the eight teams that have secured direct entry, along with six wildcard pairs. Additionally, two further wild-card teams will compete. Among the wildcard entrants is Venus Williams, 45, who will join forces with American big server Reilly Opelka. Williams, a former world No. 1 in singles, boasts an impressive doubles pedigree, having claimed two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in 1998, three Olympic gold medals, and 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles championships alongside her sister Serena. Recently, Venus made a return to the WTA Tour at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, marking her first appearance since March 2024. She became the oldest player in 21 years to win a WTA singles match, though she was eliminated in the second round by Poland’s Magdalena Frech. This year’s mixed doubles event will feature most of the top 10 ranked men and women, with a total of sixteen teams competing for a $1 million first-place prize. Matches are scheduled over two days, August 19 and 20, prior to the start of the main draw singles competition. The teams granted direct entry include: - No. 11 Emma Navarro paired with No. 1 Jannik Sinner - Belinda Bencic and No. 3 Alexander Zverev - No. 12 Elena Rybakina alongside No. 4 Taylor Fritz - No. 10 Paula Badosa with No. 5 Jack Draper - No. 7 Amanda Anisimova teamed with No. 9 Holger Rune - No. 3 Iga Swiatek and No. 13 Casper Ruud - No. 4 Jessica Pegula matched with No. 15 Tommy Paul - No. 5 Mirra Andreeva partnering No. 14 Daniil Medvedev Other notable wildcard entrants include Emma Raducanu paired with No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz; Olga Danilovic and No. 6 Novak Djokovic; Taylor Townsend joining forces with No. 7 Ben Shelton; No. 8 Madison Keys alongside No. 12 Frances Tiafoe; and the reigning U.S. Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. The star-studded pairing and schedule are expected to draw significant attention as the sport's elite prepare to compete in this prestigious event.

Philippine Tennis Team Targets Further Progress in Davis Cup Asia-Oceania

MANILA – The Philippine men's tennis squad is determined to build on its recent success as it prepares for upcoming competitions in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone. The team, consisting of Eric Jed Olivarez, AJ Lim, Arthur Craig Pantino, and doubles specialists Ruben Gonzales and Francis Casey Alcantara, recently secured promotion to Group III after a flawless performance in the Group IV qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Coached by former Davis Cup players Joseph Lizardo and Johnny Arcilla, the Filipino team swept all four matches, culminating in a 2-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan in their playoff tie. "We are expected to win in Group III, and I firmly believe we can," said 27-year-old Eric Jed Olivarez during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Olivarez noted that traditional Southeast Asian tennis powers Thailand and Indonesia are competing at the Group II level, where the Philippines had previously contended before being suspended by the International Tennis Federation. The team draws motivation from rising star Alex Eala, currently ranked No. 65 in the world women’s singles. "Alex brings immense pride to our country, and we hope she continues to inspire us and other Filipino athletes," Olivarez added. Philippine Tennis Association Executive Director Tonette Mendoza, who was also present at the forum, confirmed that the same men's team will represent the country at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok this December. She further revealed that efforts are underway to assemble the women’s team, with hopes of including Eala in the lineup for the biennial event. The forum was hosted by the Philippine Sportswriters Association and supported by prominent organizations including San Miguel Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

University of Cebu Webmasters Triumph in Inaugural V-League Visayas Men’s Volleyball Finals

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Demonstrating resilience and skill, the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters claimed the first-ever V-League Visayas men’s volleyball championship by overcoming the favored University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in a hard-fought four-set final held on Sunday, July 27, at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Basak Campus Coliseum. The reigning Cesafi Season 24 champions secured the crown with a 26-24, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23 victory, edging the top-seeded Panthers in a match filled with intense rallies and momentum shifts. The closely contested opening set saw both teams exchanging points until UC edged out USPF 26-24. However, the Panthers responded strongly in the second set, winning decisively 25-18 to level the match. In the latter part of the game, the Webmasters maintained their composure amidst unforced errors and high-pressure situations. Coach John Abas’s leadership proved vital in guiding the team through a nail-biting fourth set characterized by several ties and momentum exchanges. At 22-all in the final set, Ryan Pantilgan made a pivotal midcourt attack to break the deadlock, followed by a tactical drop shot from Quiades Labos that put UC at match point. Although USPF briefly revived their hopes after Pantilgan’s serving error, Labos sealed the championship with another precise drop shot, concluding the set 25-23. Labos earned MVP honors with a standout performance, tallying 23 points from 22 kills and five key receptions. Pantilgan contributed 16 points, supported by 12 attacks and four blocks, while Jose Ilustrisimo added 12 points, including six digs and a crucial ace. On the opposing side, Jasper Judilla led USPF with 16 points from attacks and a service ace. Teammates Christian Casas, Ben Villabito, and Spencer Carcueva each added 12 points but were unable to halt UC’s decisive plays late in the match. Statistical analysis highlighted UC’s offensive strength with 61 kills compared to USPF’s 54. Although USPF held a slight advantage in blocking, 9 to 8, UC dominated the serving department posting 17 aces against USPF’s 10. USPF, meanwhile, led in excellent sets, delivering 26 successful setups versus UC’s 14. The victory reinforces UC Webmasters’ dominance in Cebu collegiate volleyball and marks a historic triumph in the newly established V-League Visayas men’s competition.

Alex Eala Falls to Marketa Vondrousova in First Round of Canadian Open

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala was ousted in the opening round of the Canadian Open in Montreal after a hard-fought three-set match against Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova. The encounter ended 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in favor of Vondrousova early Monday Philippine time. Eala took the first set, but the world No. 65 quickly regained control, securing the next two sets in dominant fashion over a two-hour and six-minute battle. Vondrousova outperformed Eala in key statistics, including aces served (7-0), service points won (62% to 54%), and return points won (46% to 38%). Reflecting on the match, Eala said, \"I expected a tough match because she has had strong results before, and she played very well today. I'm just happy to have competed so fiercely.\" Vondrousova, who claimed the Wimbledon title earlier this year, is set to face Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the Canadian Open's second round. Looking ahead, the 20-year-old Eala is preparing for her next competition at the Cincinnati Open in the United States, beginning August 7.

De Minaur Clinches Washington Open Title After Thrilling Comeback Against Davidovich Fokina

Alex de Minaur staged a remarkable comeback to capture the Washington Open crown on Sunday, rallying from a set down and fending off three match points to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3) in the ATP 500 final. The Australian, who previously finished runner-up at the event in 2018, attributed his victory partly to good fortune, which helped him secure his 10th career title and assured entry into the world top 10 rankings ahead of the upcoming US Open. Both competitors, aged 26, exchanged breaks during an intense opening set before Davidovich Fokina established control with precise forehand winners to close it out. De Minaur responded dominantly in the second set, successfully converting break points and maintaining his serve to level the match in just over 30 minutes, ending the set with an ace. The Spanish player appeared poised to claim his first ATP title after taking a 5-3 lead in the decider, but he faltered while serving for the match, sending a forehand wide and allowing De Minaur to break back. Tensions rose as Davidovich Fokina squandered three championship points on the Australian's serve. Ultimately, De Minaur capitalized on a series of unforced errors during the tiebreak to seal the victory. Speaking at the trophy ceremony, de Minaur expressed his satisfaction: "I came here in 2018 and it gave me so much confidence, so I\'m so happy that I was able to come back and end up winning the title." He paid tribute to his opponent, saying, "Alejandro, you\'re way too good not to have one of these, it\'s coming for sure. You deserved it today, I just got lucky. You are a hell of a competitor, hell of a player. No one on the tour wants to play you. And this is not the end, this is only going on for you." Davidovich Fokina noted his progress since needing a wild card to enter the event last year and looked forward to reaching a career-high ranking of world number 19. "He deserved the win, he was fighting every... ball, he was always pushing through my limits," he said. "We had a job to do before we started the year, to be at the middle of the year in the top 20. This week we did it, just not with the trophy. But for sure, we will keep going, pushing our limits, pushing harder," he added.

Slovenia Stuns France, Advances to Semifinals Alongside Italy, Brazil, and Poland in VNL 2025

In a surprising turn of events at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s tournament in Ningbo, China, Slovenia defeated the reigning champions France in four sets on July 31, earning a place in the semifinals alongside Italy, Brazil, and Poland. Slovenia secured a 3-1 victory over France with set scores of 25–21, 25–23, 21–25, and 25–20. Demonstrating remarkable composure and tactical precision from the start, Slovenia dominated the first two sets. Although France fought back in the third, Slovenia regained momentum to close out the match. Tonček Štern led Slovenia with 16 points, all from attacks, showcasing both aggressive offense and efficient execution. Italy was the first team to clinch a semifinal spot by overcoming Cuba in four sets (25–18, 25–19, 20–25, 25–21). Key contributors included Alessandro Michieletto, who tallied 17 points including two service aces and a kill block, and Kamil Rychlicki, who added 16 points with three aces and two blocks, effectively disrupting Cuba’s rhythm. Brazil rebounded from a narrow first-set loss to defeat host nation China 3-1 (29–31, 25–19, 25–16, 25–21). Alan Souza starred for Brazil with 26 points, guiding his team’s attack and using strategic serving to shift the momentum decisively in their favor following the tight opener. Poland rounded out the semifinalists by sweeping Japan in a closely contested match (25–23, 26–24, 25–12). The first two sets were competitive, but Poland dominated the third set with a 14–3 blocking advantage. Kewin Sasak led Poland with 15 points, while Tomasz Fornal contributed 11 points, including four from kills and blocks. The semifinals are set for August 2, featuring Brazil versus Poland and Italy facing Slovenia as the four teams compete for the VNL 2025 championship.

Farm Fresh Secures Premier Volleyball League Quarterfinal Spot with Straight-Set Win Over Capital1

In an impressive display at the Dasmarinas Arena in Cavite, Farm Fresh dominated Capital1 with a straight-sets win of 25-20, 25-15, 25-21, securing their place in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) on Tour quarterfinals. The Filipino-American setter Alohi Robins-Hardy emerged as the vital playmaker, delivering 15 precise sets and contributing five points to guide her team to its first playoff appearance since joining the professional league two years ago. Robins-Hardy credited her teammates for the success, stating, \"It\'s just my teammates, I have confidence in them. I tried my best to provide them with a good balance, and they did what they do best, which is scoring points.\" Farm Fresh will face the strong Creamline squad in a highly anticipated knockout match scheduled for next week at the PhilSports Arena. The Foxies' offense thrived under Robins-Hardy's leadership, with Trisha Tubu leading the scoring with 15 points. Supporting contributions came from Caitlin Viray and Lorene Toring, each scoring 11 points, while Jolina dela Cruz added 10 points. On the other hand, Capital1 struggled throughout the match and ended their pre-season run without a single win in six games, failing to pose significant challenges against Farm Fresh's sustained attack. This victory marks a significant milestone for Farm Fresh, highlighting their steady progress and competitive drive in the PVL as they gear up for the next challenging round.