Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The Philippine Sports Commission is transforming the landscape for para-sports by fast-tracking major infrastructure upgrades aimed at elite performance and inclusivity. 

Under Chairman John Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio, the PSC is currently rehabilitating the PhilSPADA facilities and unveiling modernized dormitories at the PhilSports Complex to provide athletes with world-class living and training environments. 

This shift toward athlete-centric welfare reinforces the agency's "sports for all" mandate, ensuring that physical barriers do not hinder the country’s most resilient competitors.

These investments are already yielding historic returns, headlined by a powerhouse performance at the ASEAN Para Games in Thailand this past January. 

Team Philippines secured a record-breaking haul of 134 medals including 45 golds, marking a new era for Filipino para-athletics. 

To honor this feat, the government distributed over P14.3 million in total incentives to athletes and coaches during a recognition ceremony led by Senator Bong Go and Philippine Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo, cementing the nation's commitment to rewarding excellence on the international stage.

MANILA—The BFP Lady Firefighters returned to their winning ways with a commanding straight-sets victory over the AFP Lady Gunnar, 3-0 at the Paco Arena, Manila. 

Dominating the sets with identical scorelines of 25-18, 25-17, and 25-18, the Lady Firefighters showcased a relentless offense that left the Lady Gunnar struggling to find a rhythm. 

Gelimae Villanueva earned Best Player of the Game honors, delivering a powerhouse performance with 10 points—including 7 attacks and 3 aces to anchor BFP's clinical execution.

This victory serves as a crucial redemption for the BFP squad following a heartbreaking five-set loss to the PhilHealth Health Insurers in their previous outing. 

Coach Efraem Dimaculangan emphasized that the earlier defeat was a catalyst for today’s success rather than a setback. 

“Ang sabi ko lang gawin lang nating motivation yung pagkatalo natin," Dimaculangan shared during the post-game interview. "So, hindi tayo talo doon kasi may mga learning kaming nakuha doon sa laro na yun.”

Despite her stellar performance, Villanueva remains focused on sharpening the team's chemistry as the tournament progresses. 

When asked about areas for improvement, the star hitter highlighted the mental and social aspects of the game over raw skill. 

“Yung communication na lang po sa loob ng court at tiwala sa sarili at sa teammates po,” Villanueva noted. 

With this win, the Lady Firefighters successfully extinguished any doubts about their momentum, proving they remain a top-tier contender in the UVL.

MANILA—The Pag-IBIG Fund Lady Smashers displayed nerves of steel at the Paco Arena in Manila yesterday, outlasting the DFA Emissaries in a must-win five-set marathon. 

Pag-IBIG appeared to be on the fast track to a sweep after dominating the opening frames 25–17 and 25–18. 

However, the Emissaries refused to go quietly, orchestrating a relentless late-game surge to snatch the third and fourth sets, 28–26 and 25–19, forcing a decisive fifth-set showdown.

Refusing to let their early lead go to waste, the Lady Smashers regained their composure in the final frame. 

Pag-IBIG’s disciplined defense and sharp execution allowed them to pull away and clinch the set 15–12, officially securing their second victory of the season. 

The win marks a significant momentum builder for the squad, proving their ability to withstand pressure when pushed to the limit by a resilient opponent.

Carrie Pronuevo earned Best Player of the Game honors after a stellar all-around performance, racking up 23 points highlighted by 16 attacks, 5 blocks, and 2 aces. 

In a post-game interview, Pronuevo credited their steadiness to a return to fundamentals. “Ang sinabi po ng coaches po namin is back to basic tayo," Pronuevo shared. "Kung ano yung ginagawa namin sa training, ayon po yung ia-apply namin sa game na yon.”

MANILA—The COMELEC Suffragettes extended their winning streak to five after delivering a crushing straight-sets victory over the MMDA Lady Spikers, 25-8, 25-12, 25-19, at the Paco Arena in Manila on April 29.

From the opening serve, COMELEC overwhelmed their opponents with superior floor defense and a relentless offensive rhythm that left MMDA scrambling. 

The sweep further solidifies the Suffragettes’ position at the top of the standings as they continue their powerhouse run through the preliminaries.

Rednaxela Tobias claimed Best Player of the Game honors, spearheading the COMELEC attack with a versatile performance. 

Tobias tallied 10 points overall, consisting of 9 clinical attacks and one service ace, consistently finding the gaps in the Lady Spikers' defense. 

Her efficiency on the court ensured that MMDA never found the momentum needed to force a fourth set, keeping the Suffragettes firmly in control from start to finish.

In a post-game interview, Tobias emphasized that their preparation transcends individual matchups. 

“Yung game po namin ngayon siguro magbibigay po siya ng confidence kasi yung practice po namin hindi po namin siya ginagawa para lang sa bawat kalaban namin kundi sa makakalaban pa po namin.” Tobias stated, signaling that COMELEC is already eyeing a deep postseason run.

“Our game today will give us confidence because we don’t practice just for our current opponent, but for everyone we have yet to face.”

Despite the loss, the MMDA Lady Spikers still have a mathematical chance to turn their season around with two games remaining in the preliminary round.

Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3x3 showcased their growing dominance in the region, securing a silver medal yesterday at the #Sanya2026 Asian Beach Games. 

The Filipina squad battled through a high-stakes championship match against host nation China, ultimately yielding a 13–21 result. 

Despite the finals loss, the team’s consistent performance throughout the tournament underscored their status as a rising powerhouse in the 3x3 circuit.

This podium finish marks back-to-back silver medals for the national program following their recent success at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup. 

By maintaining their momentum on the international stage, Gilas Women’s 3x3 continues to solidify its reputation for grit and elite execution. 

The squad now looks to build on this achievement as they strengthen their bid for the future.