Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The PNP Responders kept their clean record intact after powering past the tight defense of the GSIS Furies, 77-72, in the third game of a thrilling triple-header in the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026 on September 30 at the Paco Arena.  

The hard-earned victory pushed the Responders into fourth place in the standings with an undefeated 3-0 mark, while dropping the Furies to seventh place after falling to a 1-2 record.  

PLtCol Joseph Francisco Garcia anchored PNP's assault with a monster double-double performance, churning out 22 points, 16 rebounds, and two assists to earn Best Player of the Game honors. 

Despite encountering intense pressure from the Furies' frontcourt, Garcia stepped up late in the game to bury GSIS on the hardcourt. 

"Yung unang panalo kita niyo naman parang depleted yung line up namin, halos wala akong pahinga. Nakuha lang pala talaga sa tiyaga. Ayun, pagod, tiyaga, buti nalang nanalo kami," said Garcia in an interview after the game.  

With momentum fully on their side, the Responders now look to extend their winning streak in their next matchup, while the Furies aim to regroup and climb up the standings in the coming week.

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MANILA—The Judiciary Magis pulled off a thrilling comeback victory, edging the BJMP Greyhounds, 60-58, in the second game of the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026 triple-header on September 30 at the Paco Arena. 

Judge Joseph Kahlil Crespo executed a fatal go-ahead basket with just 2 seconds left on the game clock, shattering the hopes of the Greyhounds and securing the dramatic win for the Magis.  

The buzzer-beating victory served as a massive bounce-back performance for the Judiciary squad following a frustrating setback against the GSIS Furies in their previous outing. 

Refusing to fall into a losing slump, the Magis displayed resilience down the stretch to erase the deficit and seize full control in the closing moments of the contest.

Judge Dane Caceus Carag anchored Judiciary's offense, earning Best Player of the Game honors after pumping in 19 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists. 

“Actually, this game is dedicated to my teammates kase yung last game sobrang frustrating yung talo, but again this is a bounce back win and yung effort namin during practice, nag pay off naman,” said Carag after leading his squad to victory.  

Providing crucial support alongside Carag was Tagalicud, who earned the third best player recognition after delivering key plays down the stretch to keep the Magis within striking distance. 

His timely contributions on both ends of the floor proved essential in setting up Crespo's late-game heroics.  

With the victory, the Judiciary Magis elevated their record to 3-1, climbing to fourth place in the tournament standings, while the BJMP Greyhounds dropped to sixth place with a 1-2 win-loss ledger.

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MANILA—The DOJ Radiance maintained their flawless campaign in the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026, delivering a dominant 66–47 beating to the BIR Nation Builders in the opening game of Wednesday’s triple-header on September 30 at the Paco Arena.  

The convincing victory propelled DOJ to a league-leading 4–0 record, securing firm control of the top spot in the team standings. 

Meanwhile, the winless BIR Nation Builders sank deeper into the bottom of the standings as their elimination round struggles continued.  

Radiance’s star guard City Prosecutor Nonilon Tagalicud once again spearheaded the offensive and defensive attack for the Radiance. 

Tagalicud turned in a monster stat line of 12 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, and 2 steals to earn his fourth overall Best Player of the Game (BPOG) award this season, marking his fourth consecutive game claiming top honors.  

"Every win is important. So, para sa amin na makuha yung apat na sunod na panalo, we are really thankful and feel blessed dahil so far, so good at lumalabas lahat ng aming pinapakitang paghihirap sa aming kada laro," said Tagalicud during his post-game interview.

With Tagalicud setting the pace, the DOJ Radiance look unstoppable heading into the next phase of the tournament, while the BIR Nation Builders face a steep climb to salvage their season.

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Fil-American track sensation Victoria Bossong locked in a historic bronze medal in the Women's 800m final on September 29, 2026 at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, delivering a podium finish in her high-profile international debut for the Philippines. 

Stopping the clock at 2:05.34, the 23-year-old runner proved her status among Asia’s top mid-distance talents while navigating an extraordinarily physical and crowded two-lap finale. 

Rather than resting on her laurels, Bossong immediately channeled the high-stakes performance into relentless motivation for her upcoming international campaigns.

The tactical battle tested the debutant's mettle as rival runners set a slow, calculated pace, creating a tightly bunched pack that limited clear lanes for acceleration. 

Boasting a blistering personal best of 1:58.52 set earlier this season, Bossong knows her full athletic potential far exceeds the slow-paced tactical clash in Nagoya. 

Using this milestone bronze medal as crucial experience, Bossong is channeling every lesson directly into her pursuit of top-tier hardware at the Asian Championships and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. 

Her sights remain firmly locked on dominating the track and standing atop the podium for the Philippines in her next outings. 

"I definitely wasn't satisfied. I don't think I will be satisfied until I win gold," Bossong declared. "Going forward I hope that I can use those lessons and bring home a gold for the future—that's what I'm aiming for."

The Philippines is still proud of you, Victoria. Thank you for giving your all!

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Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena cemented his status as a generational icon after leaping to a record-breaking gold medal in torrential rain at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. 

Undeterred by adverse weather, the world-class athlete cleared a massive 5.91 meters, successfully defending his Asian Games title and setting a new championship standard. 

Obiena’s commanding performance proved once again that his fiercest competition on the continent is simply his own past achievements.

By surpassing his previous Asian Games mark of 5.90 meters set in Hangzhou, Obiena elevated Asian athletics to uncharted heights. 

The triumph highlights his relentless dominance in the sport, solidifying back-to-back Asiad gold medals while continually pushing the physical limits of pole vaulting. 

Every leap continues to rewrite history, proving that his relentless work ethic and technical mastery can overcome even the most punishing competitive conditions.

Obiena's historical feat establishes him as the undisputed standard for pole vaulting across the entire region. 

No longer just the pride of the Philippines, he stands as a living legend whose athletic excellence inspires sports fans worldwide. 

As he keeps breaking records and pushing boundary lines skyward, Obiena leaves no doubt that his place in Asian sports history is forever etched in gold.

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