Sports

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala captured the 2026 Kooyong Classic women’s singles title in Melbourne, Australia, defeating 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic of Croatia, 6-3, 6-4. Organizers awarded Eala the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy, named after the former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion. Former Australian WTA and Grand Slam player Elizabeth Peers presented the trophy during the ceremony at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. The exhibition event served as a key warm-up for Eala ahead of her Australian Open debut later in January 2026, where she will compete in the main draw representing the Philippines.

The Philippine men’s football team will face Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos in Group B of the ASEAN Football Championship starting in late July 2025. The draw, held Thursday, placed the Philippines against Thailand, which ousted the squad in the 2024 semifinals with a 4-3 aggregate win. The 2024 run marked the Philippines’ first semifinal appearance since 2018. Head coach Carles Cuadrat will again lead the national team as it aims to at least equal its previous performance. Officials will release the full schedule and venue details later.

Barangay Ginebra forward Troy Rosario revealed that he played through a confirmed quadriceps tear in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals loss to San Miguel Beer, 101-88, in Manila. Rosario detailed how unclear MRI results from St. Luke’s Medical Center left him uncertain about the injury’s severity until hours before tip-off. He still chose to play in the knockout game, managing pain and stress as Ginebra’s title bid ended. Team officials started mapping out his treatment and recovery after the diagnosis.

The NBA fined Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown $35,000 on Monday for postgame comments criticizing officiating after a 100-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Boston. Brown, who did not attempt a free throw in the game and questioned the consistency of calls, said he would accept any penalty during a two-minute locker room interview that included expletives. The league cited his public criticism of referees and his language in announcing the fine, which does not include a suspension.

Erik Spoelstra on Tuesday became the longest-tenured active head coach across the four major U.S. professional sports leagues after Mike Tomlin ended his 19-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Spoelstra, who has led the Miami Heat since 2008, already held the NBA’s longest active coaching tenure following Gregg Popovich’s retirement from the San Antonio Spurs. His new distinction follows his 800th regular-season victory in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The milestone underscores Spoelstra’s continuous 17-plus-year run with the Heat, making him the longest-serving active head coach in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL.

Houston Texans teammates Will Anderson Jr. and Azeez Al-Shaair say their friendship is grounded in faith, bridging their Christian and Muslim beliefs.

Riot Games has launched the first seasonal update of 2026 for League of Legends (LoL), focusing on the in-game kingdom of Demacia and introducing gameplay, narrative, and competitive changes.

Filipina tennis player Alex Eala climbed to a career-high No. 49 in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings following her semifinal finish at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, the WTA rankings showed at the start of the 2026 season.

Two-time champion Guido van der Valk is set to return to The Country Club Invitational on January 27 in Canlubang, aiming for a third title at the Philippine Golf Tour season opener.

Matthew Stafford led the Los Angeles Rams to a 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers in the opening round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday, narrowly avoiding an upset after the Panthers mounted a late comeback.