Philippine Women’s Football Team Unveils 23-Player Roster for ASEAN Championship in Vietnam

The Philippine Women's National Football Team, known as the Filipinas, revealed their 23-player squad on Saturday for the upcoming ASEAN Women’s Championship (MSIG Serenity Cup) in Vietnam, scheduled from August 6 to 19. As the reigning champions following their 2022 victory on home soil, the Filipinas aim to defend their title against regional competitors. Veteran stalwarts Hali Long and Inna Palacios have been included, bringing leadership and experience to the squad. Head coach Mark Torcaso expressed optimism despite some key players being unavailable due to the tournament not falling within the FIFA calendar. "While we have a few players unavailable, due to this not being a FIFA window, this opens up a great opportunity for our talented young players to step up. This is an exciting opportunity for our young players to gain experience and compete at a high level. They\'ve earned this chance, and we see it as a key part of our long-term plan for preparing for the 2026 Asian Cup. As defending champions, we\'re here to win, and do the best we can for the country and our fans. We believe in the depth of our squad and we\'re ready to showcase it," Torcaso stated. The team roster includes Olivia Mcdaniel, Nina Meollo, Inna Palacios, Malea Cesar, Rhea Arcenal Chan, Lyka Cuenco, Janae Defazio, Kaya Hawkinson, Hali Long, Azumi Oka, Aaliyah Schinaman, Aliana Weibel, Isabella Alamo, Alessandrea Carpio, Jaycee Defazio, Charisa Lemoran, Isabella Pasion, Quinley Quezada, Tea Pidding, Adelaide Wyrzynski, Nina Mathelus, Chandler Mcdaniel, and Dionesa Tolentin. The Philippines has been grouped in Group B alongside Myanmar, Australia U23, and Timor Leste. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage of the competition. The Filipinas enter the tournament with high expectations as they aim to uphold their championship status and build momentum towards the 2026 Asian Cup.

Stephen Curry Aims to Climb NBA All-Time Scoring List Amid Ongoing Career Success

Stephen Curry, widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, continues to set his sights on ascending the league's all-time scoring ranks despite an already illustrious career. At 37 years old, Curry boasts four NBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, and 11 All-Star selections. However, he believes there is still room for growth in his career, particularly in advancing his position on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Currently, Curry holds the 24th spot, having accumulated 25,386 points since entering the league in 2009 as the 7th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors. Last season, he averaged 24.5 points per game and led the NBA with a 91.1% free throw percentage, totaling 1,718 points. If Curry can replicate this scoring output in the upcoming season, he is projected to surpass legend Hakeem Olajuwon and move up to 14th place on the all-time scoring leaderboard. The all-time regular-season scoring leader remains LeBron James with 42,184 points, followed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), and Michael Jordan (32,292). Other notable figures in the top 10 include Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Carmelo Anthony. Despite his ambition to climb the scoring chart, Curry emphasizes that his main goal is not individual accolades but team success. He stated, \"That’s not why I’ll keep going. It’s more that I want to get to a level where we’re competing and playing for championships.\" The Warriors reached the playoffs last season but were eliminated in the second round of the Western Conference by the Minnesota Timberwolves, underscoring Curry's focus on collective achievement as he continues his remarkable career.

Sevastova Stages Stunning Comeback Against Pegula at National Bank Open

In a remarkable turnaround on Friday at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Anastasija Sevastova rallied from an early deficit to defeat two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the tournament's third round. The Latvian player, ranked 396th entering the match, saved nine out of 13 break points and maintained a strong first-serve rate of 71 percent to overcome the third seed. "Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better," Sevastova said. "Third set, I played really good. Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible." Pegula seemed in command early, winning eight of the initial 11 games, but Sevastova shifted momentum by capturing the next four games, igniting her comeback. After leveling the match by taking the second set, Sevastova stumbled in the opening game of the third set but then dominated the remainder of the final set. Reflecting on her loss, Pegula admitted, "It was a strange match for me. I felt like I was in complete control, and then I played a couple of terrible games." Sevastova’s career had previously peaked at world No. 11 in 2018 before injuries slowed her progress. That year, she reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open, falling to eventual runner-up Serena Williams. Sevastova will now face Naomi Osaka, the 2018 U.S. Open champion and former world No. 1. Osaka secured her spot in the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, converting six of nine break points and delivering five aces. Other notable results saw No. 6 seed Madison Keys recover from a first-set loss to defeat Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Switzerland’s No. 16 seed Clara Tauson easily prevailed 6-3, 6-0 against Yuliia Starodubtseva. The night session featured dominant displays from several top seeds: No. 2 Iga Swiatek defeated Eva Lys 6-2, 6-2; No. 5 Amanda Anisimova beat Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour; and No. 10 Elina Svitolina dispatched Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1 in under an hour. In the only three-set encounter of the night, Czech No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova overcame Swiss No. 17 seed Belinda Bencic 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-3, saving 10 out of 11 break points during her comeback victory.

Larga Pilipinas Cycling Tournament Postponed to November 29 Due to Severe Weather

Larga Pilipinas operations chief Snow Badua announced the postponement of the six-day cycling race initially set for August 2. The event will now commence on November 29, as persistent adverse weather conditions have impacted many regions across the country, particularly in Northern Luzon and the Cordillera region, causing isolation due to flooding and landslides. During the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on July 29, Badua acknowledged the disappointment caused by the delay, noting the teams' extensive preparations. He stated, \"It's really unfortunate since the teams worked hard to prepare for this. As we speak, there are still places in the north that are unreachable because of flooding and landslides.\" Badua explained that consultations with local government units and guidance from PhilCycling president Abraham Tolentino influenced the decision to reschedule the tournament. The emphasis remains firmly on safety, with November expected to offer more favorable weather conditions. He further elaborated, \"We want to let the typhoon season pass first. Let's allow the LGUs to concentrate on recovery efforts. We don't want to be a burden during this time.\" Organizers have already informed both international and local teams, some of which were due to arrive this week, about the new schedule. This strategic postponement ensures that the event proceeds under safer circumstances while allowing affected communities time to recover.

Scottie Thompson Provides Key Support Off-Court in Gilas Pilipinas Preparations

Scottie Thompson has demonstrated his value to Gilas Pilipinas beyond his on-court leadership by lending a helping hand behind the scenes. Prior to their exhibition match against the Macau Black Bears, the national team faced challenges securing a suitable training venue. Thompson stepped in, generously providing his private gym in Clark as a dedicated practice facility for the squad. The decision paid off as Gilas secured a hard-fought 103-98 win at the Araneta Coliseum, with Thompson contributing a well-rounded stat line of 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 25 minutes. Highlighting his off-court contribution, Thompson remarked, \"It was a proud moment for me to have Gilas train at my facility. They needed a space, and it just happened that the Gilas Youth had used my gym before, so it made sense for them to return.\" He emphasized the benefits of the gym’s private setting, which allowed the team to concentrate and refine their game plan without distractions. \"They were really able to focus. It was a closed-door setting, away from distractions. I’m just happy the gym played a part in that,\" Thompson added. Beyond aiding the national squad, Thompson also jested about the added exposure his gym gained. \"Of course, it helps my gym too,\" he joked. \"Maybe if they keep coming back, we’ll make the place even better.\" As Gilas resumes training at the Araneta Coliseum for their final sessions, the team is preparing for their departure to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to continue their campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup. Through his on-court contributions and off-court support, Thompson’s dedication to Gilas Pilipinas remains unwavering, marking him as an indispensable asset to the team.

Team Liquid Advances to MSC 2025 Semifinals with Convincing Win Over Aurora Gaming

Team Liquid delivered a commanding performance in the MSC 2025 quarterfinals held on Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Kiel "Oheb" Soriano played a pivotal role in their 3-0 sweep against Aurora Gaming. This decisive victory not only demonstrated Team Liquid's superior skill and teamwork but also secured their advancement to the semifinals. The win brings the team closer to capturing the coveted MSC title, a prize that has narrowly eluded the Philippines in the last two tournaments. With momentum on their side, Team Liquid aims to continue their pursuit of the championship in the upcoming rounds.

University of the Philippines Dominates Davao Selection in Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals

The University of the Philippines (UP) volleyball team delivered a commanding performance, sweeping Davao Selection 25-11, 25-13, 25-15 at the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals hosted at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym in Davao City on Friday evening, August 1, 2025. Casiey Dongallo stood out for the Fighting Maroons, amassing a game-high 15 points, including a pivotal seven-point contribution in the third set. During that phase, UP surged ahead with an 8-0 run, overturning a 9-10 deficit. Teammates Kiane Olango and Nina Ytang contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively. Italian head coach Fabio Menta acknowledged the team’s challenges with player rotations, citing the limited preparation time as a factor affecting team chemistry. "When we start changing players, it’s not the same chemistry. We’ve only practiced ball handling for a month, and not all 14 players are at the same level. The tempo changes. Changing the setter caused too many errors, which gave the opposition confidence," Menta explained, referring to UP's 25 errors in the match. Menta further detailed his approach during a critical timeout when UP fell behind 9-10 in the third set: "I reminded them of our team rules and sometimes have to show a different face to regain focus. It’s nothing serious, but I noticed mistakes we aren’t supposed to make." For Davao Selection, a team composed of standout athletes from Ateneo de Davao University, Holy Cross of Davao College, and the University of Mindanao, Elysha Cabingatan led with four points. Other contributors included Isabelle Andal, Rika Sasaki, Rizza Salvanera, Angelica Ordinaria, and Kyle Esteves, who added a combined 10 points. Earlier in the day, National University (NU) cruised to a straight-sets victory against Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, winning 25-19, 25-13, 25-19. Kaye Bombita led the Lady Bulldogs with 10 points, followed by Arah Panique’s eight. Rookies Samantha Cantada and Denesse Daylisan made notable impacts, scoring seven and six points respectively. Cantada recently earned MVP honors at the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League, highlighting her rising profile. NU assistant coach Alvin Dumalaog commented on the match: "It was a good game, and the players we expected to step up performed well. We still need to make adjustments since we just returned, but the core is intact." Chams Maaya and team captain Vange Alinsug also contributed significantly with seven and six points, while veteran setter Lams Lamina executed nine excellent sets. The tournament follows a single round-robin format where the team with the best win-loss record will be declared champion. This event is organized by Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES), and supported by the Davao City Sports Development Office, Mindanao Development Authority, Apo View Hotel, Commission on Higher Education 11 (Davao Region), and the University of Southeastern Philippines. Upcoming legs of the competition are scheduled to take place in Cebu and Batangas. The Shakey’s Super League continues to showcase top collegiate volleyball talent from across the Philippines, serving as a key platform for emerging athletes.