Sports

Coach Jorge Souza De Brito has stepped down as head coach of the Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball team after a four-year tenure that ended with a fourth-place finish at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Program officials confirmed his departure and said the national squad would soon begin the search for a new head coach while retaining its current training pool. De Brito expressed gratitude to players, staff, and supporters and extended well wishes to the Philippine volleyball program. The national federation plans a performance review of the recent SEA Games campaign to guide future preparations.

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala captured the Philippines’ first-ever Southeast Asian Games gold medal in women’s singles tennis by defeating Thai home favorite Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, in the 33rd SEA Games final in Thailand. Eala delivered under pressure to give Team Philippines a historic title and boost the country’s medal tally in the regional multi-sport event.

Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team, guided by coach Angiolino Frigoni, targets a bronze-medal finish at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games after an inspiring FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship run raised public expectations. Frigoni explains how the team’s world-level performance does not guarantee SEA Games gold but provides crucial experience and confidence. With gold medal contention no longer possible, the squad focuses on preparation, tactical adjustments, and mental toughness for the bronze-medal match. National volleyball officials monitor the team’s development, training, and long-term plans as Filipino fans continue to closely follow Alas Pilipinas’ regional and international campaigns.

Kevin Garnett has publicly asked the San Antonio Spurs to allow him to conduct an on-court training session with rookie Victor Wembanyama. The Hall of Famer says he wants to support Wembanyama’s development by sharing his NBA experience and defensive expertise. The Spurs have not yet issued a response to Garnett’s request.

Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial entered the men’s 80kg final of the SEA Games 2025 after scoring a knockout win over Vietnam’s Manh Cuing Nguyen at the Chulalongkorn Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand. The two-time Olympian landed a powerful right hook in their semifinal bout, prompting a referee stoppage and securing his place in the gold medal match. Event officials confirmed the result as an official KO and updated the 80kg bracket to reflect Marcial’s advance to the championship round. Organizers scheduled the men’s 80kg final in Bangkok, where Marcial will fight for the SEA Games gold against an opponent still to be determined.

Nikola Jokic posted 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to record his NBA-leading 12th triple-double of the season and lead the Denver Nuggets to a 128-125 overtime win over the Houston Rockets in Denver. Jamal Murray added 35 points as the Nuggets took the season series between two of the Western Conference’s top teams. Houston’s Jalen Green scored 42 points in a tightly contested game that featured multiple lead changes, clutch plays in the fourth quarter and overtime, and a missed Rockets three-pointer on the final possession of the extra period.

Former San Antonio Spurs star and private equity investor David Robinson has filed a civil lawsuit in Houston against his longtime business partner, alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and financial misrepresentation in joint private equity ventures. The complaint claims misused funds, inaccurate reporting and undisclosed risks in multiple investment entities. Robinson seeks damages, an accounting of business records and injunctive relief while the case proceeds. The defendant has not yet presented a response in court, and no trial date is set.

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena won his fourth consecutive SEA Games gold medal in Bangkok by clearing 5.70 meters and defeating Thailand’s Amsamang Patsapong via countback at Supachalasai Stadium. Both athletes set a new SEA Games record in the men’s pole vault, but officials awarded Obiena the gold after applying the countback rule for fewer missed attempts. The result extended Obiena’s dominance in the regional competition and updated the SEA Games record books with the 5.70-meter mark.

Victor Wembanyama returned from a 12-game injury absence to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-109 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA Cup semifinal in Houston, sending the Spurs to the tournament final and handing the Thunder only their second loss of Cup play.