Cameron Young Shines as U.S. Secures Key Point on Ryder Cup Opening Day

Ryder Cup debutant Cameron Young emerged as a bright spot for the U.S. team on Friday at Bethpage Black in New York. Despite the Americans falling behind Europe with a score of 2.5 to 5.5 by the close of the opening day, Young secured a convincing fourballs victory alongside Justin Thomas against Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard, winning 6&5. Young and Thomas combined for seven birdies over 13 holes, showcasing ruthless form that injected some optimism into the U.S. squad’s start. Reflecting on his breakthrough, Young remarked, \"I\'ve been counting down to this moment for weeks, and of course, much longer since receiving the team call. The mix of excitement and nerves was intense, but having a great partner helped me navigate the day, and luckily, we played some excellent golf.\" Marking a historic achievement, Young became the first American since Phil Mickelson in 1995 to triumph by six or more holes in his maiden Ryder Cup appearance. The significance was further heightened by the venue, as it was the same course where he claimed the New York State Open title as an amateur in 2017. \"This course holds a special place in my heart, and earning a spot on this team has been a goal we've worked hard toward. We're incredibly grateful for this opportunity,\" Young added. \"Playing alongside Justin in front of such passionate fans makes the experience even more memorable.\" While the overall U.S. team faces a challenging fight ahead, Young\'s promising start provides a noteworthy highlight on Day One of this prestigious international golf competition.

Mets Owner Steve Cohen Apologizes Following Playoff Miss After Second-Half Collapse

In the wake of the New York Mets' disappointing failure to reach the playoffs, team owner Steve Cohen issued a public apology to fans on Monday via social media. This statement came a day after the Mets were defeated 4-0 by the Miami Marlins, a loss that eliminated their postseason hopes despite a potential opportunity to qualify with a victory.\n\n"Mets fans everywhere. I owe you an apology," Cohen wrote on X, reflecting on the team's collapse. "You did your part by showing up and supporting the team. We didn’t do our part. We will do a post-mortem and figure out the obvious and less obvious reasons why the team didn’t perform up to your and my expectations."\n\nThe Mets had been one of the league’s top teams, holding a 45-24 record as of June 21 and maintaining first place as recently as August 2. However, their performance plummeted in the second half, going 38-55 to close the season at 83-79. Their struggles included a critical stretch with a 7-14 record, compounded by an eight-game losing streak that began on September 6.\n\nThis downturn occurred despite the organization investing $340 million in payroll. Cohen acknowledged the emotional toll on everyone involved, saying, "We are all feeling raw emotions today. I know how much time and effort you have put into this team. The result was unacceptable. Your emotions tell me how much you care and continues to motivate the organization to do better. Thank You to the best fans in sports."\n\nSince becoming a minority owner in 2012 and acquiring majority ownership in November 2020 from Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, Cohen has seen the team endure fluctuations. Notably, the Mets experienced another late-season collapse in 2021 before achieving 101 wins in 2022 but exiting in the wild-card round. Last season, the Mets reached the National League Championship Series but were defeated by the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, preventing an all-New York World Series match-up.\n\nLooking ahead, significant roster changes appear imminent. Veteran first baseman Pete Alonso has already announced plans to opt out of the final year of his two-year, $54 million contract, which included a $24 million salary for 2026. The organization faces a critical offseason as it strives to rebuild and avoid a repeat of this year’s disappointing finish.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Powers Thunder to 7-0 Start with Dominant Win Over Pelicans

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their seventh consecutive win this season with a commanding 137-106 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 30 points, marking his 76th straight game scoring 20 or more points, tying the legendary Oscar Robertson for the franchise record. The Thunder have maintained a perfect 7-0 record for the second year in a row, while the Pelicans continue to struggle, dropping their sixth consecutive game to start the season and extending a franchise-record-tying 13-game losing streak that includes last season. Gilgeous-Alexander, who has posted 30 or more points in six of the Thunder's seven games this year, once again showcased his scoring prowess by reaching the 30-point mark within just three quarters for the second straight game. Oklahoma City set the tone early, opening with a 17-point lead after the first quarter and never allowing New Orleans to get closer than twelve points for the remainder of the game. Starting strong, Gilgeous-Alexander was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the opening quarter and contributed five assists. He completed the game shooting 8-for-14 from the floor, converted all 13 of his free throws, and dished out seven assists. While his three-point shooting was limited, his teammates compensated by hitting a season-high 20 three-pointers on 41.7% shooting from beyond the arc. Jaylin Williams, making his first start of the season, led the Thunder efforts from long range with four three-pointers. Three other players contributed three each, highlighting the team’s sharp shooting from deep despite entering the game ranked last in the NBA for three-point accuracy. The Thunder secured the victory without key players Chet Holmgren, sidelined for a third consecutive game due to back soreness, and Luguentz Dort, who was a last-minute scratch because of illness. Isaiah Hartenstein also delivered a strong all-around performance, posting 14 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. Overall, eight Thunder players scored in double figures. On the Pelicans’ side, Zion Williamson led with 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Trey Murphy III added 19 points as New Orleans shot 43.8% overall and 40% from three-point range (16 of 40), but it was not enough to challenge the Thunder’s dominance. The Thunder’s victory extends their unbeaten run, while the Pelicans face the daunting task of reversing a slump that has matched the franchise’s worst losing streak in its history.

NLEX Edges Meralco in Tight Philippine Cup Contest; Rain or Shine Narrowly Beats Titan Ultra

The NLEX Road Warriors held on to a narrow 89-85 victory against the Meralco Bolts in a closely contested PBA Philippine Cup game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday. With this win, NLEX extended their streak to two consecutive victories, while Meralco’s three-game winning run was halted. JB Bahio led NLEX with an impressive performance, totaling 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal. Bench contributor Kevin Alas added 12 points, and Robert Bolick nearly recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. NLEX managed an 11-point lead at 83-72 with 7:18 left in the game following an and-one play by Kevin Alas. However, the resilient Meralco Bolts chipped away at the deficit with a 13-4 run, bringing the score to 87-85 after CJ Cansino’s layup with just 13.3 seconds remaining. Bolick was fouled on the next possession and calmly converted free throws to extend the lead to four. Meralco’s Bong Quinto then missed a critical four-point shot as time expired, securing the Road Warriors' win. Javee Mocon grabbed the crucial rebound to close out the game. Supporting contributors for NLEX included Jonnel Policarpio and Robbie Herndon, who each scored 10 points. For Meralco, CJ Cansino led all scorers with 24 points, along with five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, while Chris Nesome added 21 points. With the result, Meralco’s record fell to 3-3, while NLEX improved to 3-1. Earlier in the day, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters narrowly defeated the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 112-111. Holding a three-point lead with seconds remaining, Rain or Shine was awarded four free throws to Anton Asistio, who made all shots to secure the lead. Calvin Abueva had an opportunity to snatch victory for Titan Ultra with a last-second jumper, but it failed to connect. Adrian Nocum and Santi Santillan paced the Elasto Painters with 24 and 21 points respectively, while Jhonard Clarito contributed 19 points and six rebounds. Abueva posted a standout performance with 31 points and 18 rebounds, although Titan Ultra suffered their fourth straight loss, dropping to 1-4. Rain or Shine’s record improved to 3-1 following their thriller against Titan Ultra.

ZUS Coffee Triumphs Over Creamline in PVL Reinforced Conference With DeBeer's 37-Point Outburst

MANILA – ZUS Coffee emerged victorious over defending champion Creamline with a 25-27, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22 win in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference held at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Thursday night. The Thunderbelles were propelled by import Anna DeBeer’s exceptional display, scoring 37 points through 35 attacks and two blocks. This win marks ZUS Coffee’s third consecutive victory, enhancing their chances of securing a Top 3 position in Pool B. Despite Michelle Gamit’s timely block giving Creamline a brief 18-16 lead in the fourth set, ZUS Coffee responded with a decisive 9-4 run, highlighted by Alexis Miner’s consecutive hits, ultimately closing the match in one hour and 57 minutes. DeBeer reflected on the team’s balanced effort, stating, \"It was really tough, but it was a total team effort all the way. We excelled at the service line, and our blocking was a key factor. Staying balanced was huge for us.\" The American attacker also contributed 15 excellent receptions and had previously recorded 37 and 18 points in the team’s earlier matches. Playmaker Cloanne Mondonedo also impressed with 25 excellent sets, outperforming Creamline’s Kyle Negrito, who managed 14 sets. On the opposing side, Courtney Rose Schwan led with 18 points, while team captain Alyssa Valdez added 13. The Cool Smashers have now fallen to a 2-2 record. Additional contributions for Creamline came from Jeanette Panaga and Diana Mae Carlos, both tallying 11 points, and Michelle Gumabao with 10. The Cool Smashers, however, were hampered by 25 unforced errors compared to the Thunderbelles’ 14 mistakes. ZUS Coffee’s victory showcased a strong combination of offensive prowess and cohesive teamwork, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the PVL Reinforced Conference.

National University Dominates UE to Close UAAP Women’s Basketball First Round

National University solidified its position as a top contender in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament by defeating the University of the East 83-54 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday. The victory marked the Lady Bulldogs’ seventh game, lifting their record to 6-1 and securing second place in the standings. Karl Ann Pingol led the charge for NU with an impressive stat line of 25 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and two assists. NU’s momentum surged in the second quarter thanks to an aggressive 19-6 run featuring contributions from Pingol, Angel Surada, Kristine Cayabyab, and Aloha Betanio, pushing the Lady Bulldogs to a 41-26 halftime lead. Coach Da Olan acknowledged the team’s slow start but expressed optimism about their resilience going forward. "We’re happy with our standing, but we had a rough beginning in this game," he said. "It’s promising that we bounced back in the second quarter and maintained that effort, but I hope we don’t start slow in the second round." Kristine Cayabyab posted 19 points along with eight steals, seven assists, and five rebounds, while Angel Surada added 10 points and dominated the boards with 15 rebounds. For the Lady Warriors, Moana Vacalares led all scorers with 18 points complemented by seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Rachel Lacayanga contributed 13 points and six rebounds, and Mhariko Gullim had eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Looking ahead, University of the East will face the Adamson University Lady Falcons on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Meanwhile, National University will take on Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Alberto Lim Jr. and Eric Jed Olivarez Advance to Gentry National Open Tennis Semifinals

MANILA – Leading Filipino tennis players Alberto Lim Jr. and Eric Jed Olivarez maintained their dominant performances on Thursday, October 16, 2025, to earn spots in the semifinals of the Gentry National Open Tennis Championships held at the Colegio San Agustin hard courts in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Top seed Lim, fresh from clinching his fourth PCA Open title last week, demonstrated his superior form by defeating Thailand's Tanakorn Srirat convincingly, 6-1, 6-2. Lim is set to face Charles Kinaadman next, who pulled off an upset win over two-time PCA Open champion Patrick John Tierro with a score of 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). Kinaadman entered the quarterfinals as the No. 9 seed. In another quarterfinal match, second seed Eric Jed Olivarez beat No. 10 seed Eric Jay Tangub, 6-4, 6-1. Olivarez will meet unseeded Arthur Craig Pantino in the semifinals. Pantino secured his place by defeating No. 7 seed Nilo Ledama in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. The semifinals promise competitive matchups as the players vie for the championship title.

Pangilinan Honored as Executive of the Year; Chot Reyes Earns Seventh Coach of the Year Award

The PBA Press Corps held its 31st Awards Night on October 13 at Novotel Manila, recognizing outstanding figures from the recent season. TNT head coach Chot Reyes was honored with his seventh Coach of the Year award, extending his own record. At 62 years old, Reyes received a unanimous vote, edging out San Miguel Beer’s Leo Austria to claim the prestigious Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Trophy. Reyes guided the TNT Tropang Giga to three consecutive Finals appearances during Season 49, capturing championships in both the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup. Despite falling short in the Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel, Reyes finished the season with a 48-27 record, marking the best performance of the year. He also shares the distinction of coaching 75 games this season, tying the record set by Tim Cone in 1996. In tandem with Reyes, TNT owner Manny V. Pangilinan was recognized as Executive of the Year, receiving the Danny Floro Award. The 79-year-old tycoon also served as the event’s special guest and keynote speaker. Reyes made history as the first recipient of the Coach of the Year award named after the legendary Baby Dalupan, having earned it previously in 1993, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2011, and 2021. Relatives of the late Dalupan were present to personally present this year’s award. Additional honors included Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero for Defensive Player of the Year, TNT’s Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser as Comeback Player of the Year, San Miguel’s Don Trollano receiving Mr. Quality Minutes, and Northport’s Arvin Tolentino as Scoring Champion. Rounding out the accolades were TNT’s Calvin Oftana awarded the Order of Merit, and selections to the All-Rookie Team comprising RJ Abarrientos (Barangay Ginebra), Sedrick Barefield (Blackwater), Caelan Tiongson (Rain or Shine), Jordan Heading (TNT), Justine Baltazar (Converge), and Kai Ballungay (Phoenix). The Game 7 of the TNT-Barangay Ginebra Commissioner’s Cup Finals was also recognized as the Game of the Season.

NU Bulldogs Secure Solo Lead with Narrow Victory over La Salle in UAAP Season 88

The NU Bulldogs climbed to the top of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball standings after a hard-fought 82-78 win against the La Salle Green Archers at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday, October 12. Guard Reinhard Jumamoy was pivotal in the final moments, delivering a crucial defensive stop with just 12.1 seconds remaining before sinking two pressure-filled free throws with 3.1 seconds left to seal the victory. With this win, NU improved to a 5-1 record as they prepare to face the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their last first-round game on October 18. The Green Archers, meanwhile, slipped to 2-3. NU assistant coach Vic Ycasiano praised the team’s determination, stating, \"We’d like to thank the boys for the way they played. They really wanted this win — even back in practice, you could see how focused and composed they were. When we entered this game, we knew they understood exactly what they had to do.\" The Bulldogs appeared poised to pull away late after PJ Palacielo scored to give them a 76-70 lead with less than two minutes remaining. However, La Salle’s Jacob Cortez sparked a rally, narrowing the margin to 75-76 with a strong layup inside the final 14 seconds. Following a missed free throw by NU’s Jake Figueroa, Jumamoy timely intercepted the rebound from La Salle’s Mike Phillips, a defensive play that shifted momentum. Paul Francisco then extended NU’s lead to 79-75 with two made free throws, but La Salle responded quickly with a three-pointer from Kean Baclaan with just 4.4 seconds on the clock. Despite La Salle’s late surge, a critical turnover by rookie Lebron Daep in the backcourt dashed their hopes of overtime, allowing the Bulldogs to edge out the win. Figueroa led NU with 18 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field, and added eight rebounds. Palacielo contributed 16 points while Francisco added 13. Jumamoy finished with eight points, all in the final quarter. For La Salle, Phillips was a standout with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and three steals. Cortez also added 15 points. Baclaan, playing his first game against his former team, delivered 11 points and six assists. The Green Archers suffered a significant blow when key big man Mason Amos exited in the fourth quarter due to a knee injury sustained after a collision with NU’s Gelo Santiago. Amos had recorded seven points and four assists before being wheeled off the court. Final Scores: NU Bulldogs 82 — Figueroa 18, Palacielo 16, Francisco 13, Santiago 12, Jumamoy 8, Parks 6, Garcia 4, John 3, Manansala 2, Enriquez 0, Padrones 0, Reyes 0, Navarro 0 La Salle Green Archers 78 — Cortez 15, Phillips 15, Baclaan 11, Pablo 8, Amos 7, Gollena 6, Macalalag 5, Abadam 4, Daep 3, Dungo 2, Nwankwo 2, Melencio 0, Marasigan 0 Quarter Scores: 21-23, 40-40, 55-61, 82-78.

Adamson Lady Falcons Advance to V-League Finals with Comeback Win Over Arellano

MANILA — The Adamson University Lady Falcons punched their ticket to the finals of the 2025 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge following a resilient four-set triumph against the Arellano University Lady Chiefs. The match, held at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan, ended 22-25, 25-11, 25-13, 25-20 in favor of Adamson, highlighted by a stellar performance from Shaina Nitura. Nitura delivered a remarkable career night, registering 30 points composed of 29 successful attacks and one block, alongside nine digs and nine receptions. This performance helped Adamson complete a sweep in the best-of-three semifinal series and extended their unbeaten run to nine consecutive matches. Adamson head coach JP Yude expressed his satisfaction: \"I’m very happy that despite losing the first set, the team came back stronger in the second and third sets. The fourth set was tougher, but I had full confidence they could close out the game.\" Returning to the championship round for the first time since finishing as runners-up in 2022, the Lady Falcons will now take on the in-form Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in a best-of-three finals beginning Monday. The decisive fourth set saw Adamson break a 16-all tie with a critical 5-2 scoring run, sparked by Frances Mordi’s timely block on Crisanta Servidad and a crucial antenna violation by Arellano. Although the Lady Chiefs rallied to narrow the gap to 22-20, Nitura’s consecutive kills and a strong attack from Eloi Dote ultimately sealed Adamson’s victory after 1 hour and 45 minutes. Mordi also starred with an all-around effort, posting 17 points, 14 digs, and 10 receptions, while Abby Segui contributed 12 points to bolster Adamson’s offense. Coach Yude emphasized the importance of humility and hard work: \"I always remind the team to stay humble because once we get too confident in our play, we risk underestimating our opponents. We need to continue trusting the process and work hard in training to maintain our winning streak.\" Despite the loss, Arellano’s Servidad put forth a strong showing with 15 points, and Sam Tiratira added 11 points, including six blocks. Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws booked their third consecutive finals appearance after a straight-sets win over the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18. Gerzel Petallo and Jaz Ellarina each scored 11 points to help propel the Lady Tamaraws to the championship round.