Games & Gaming

While Russia continues its bloody invasion of Ukraine, sports has again become intertwined with world politics. History shows that Germany was banned from the Olympics after World Wars 1 and 2. South Africa was long a sporting pariah over its apartheid system. The United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games as retribution for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. “It’s naïve …

Ernest John “EJ” Obiena won another gold medal in men’s pole vault this time at the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Poland. Obiena cleared 5.81 meters to match his season best that placed him in first place at Orlen Cup in Lodz also in Poland only 10 days ago. Belgium’s Ben Broeders wound up second with 5.71 meters via countback over …

Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino chastised the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) for excluding pole vaulter EJ Obiena from the national team. “How many more gold medals should EJ win for him to be reinstated in the national pool?” Tolentino said. “The people just can’t wait long enough for a national athletic treasure to be ignored.” …

The country’s top amateur and rising golfers have started flexing their swings more than just competing in local tournaments but to seek slots in the national team. The first of the two-part, eight-round eliminations for spots in the national squad set to vie in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Vietnam in May began at the Luisita Golf and Country …

After two years holed up in Japan during the pandemic spent on training, world gymnastics champion Caloy Yulo is back home to his family for a vacation. Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion said Yulo also returned to grace the inauguration of Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF) Gymnastics Center on March 5 in Intramuros, Manila. Carrion …

WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero is facing a controversy while preparing for a title defense – a sexual abuse complaint. Casimero was accused of acts of lasciviousness in violation of R.A. 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. A complaint was filed Feb. 11 through the Women and Children Protection Desk in Taguig City …

Just like other Filipino sporting greats, Yuka Saso will also have her own commemorative stamp as a fitting tribute to her achievement as the first Filipino and youngest player to win the prestigious Women’s US Open golf. The Philippine Postal Office (PhilPost) began the release of the stamps featuring the 20-year-old Filipina-Japanese golf sensation, who was the youngest player ever …

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will start searching for Filipino athletes who could qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano and Cortina in Italy, according to POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. The POC will encourage the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation (PSSF) and Philippine Skating Union (PSU) to immediately start their campaign for the 2026 Winter Games. …

Following his award-winning performance at the Orlen Cup in Poland (a season-best 5.81 meters jump for the gold), pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena finished 10th place out of 12 competitors at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais in Lievin, France. Obiena, who owns the Asian pole vault record of 5.93 meters (m), could only muster 5.61m, even needing three attempts to clear the …

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board will award P1,250,000 worth of special incentives for the Philippine Women’s Football Team for qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women World Cup. The PSC board approved the incentive in recognition of “the significance of their breakthrough performance during the Asian Cup and the qualification to the 2023 World Cup,” said PSC chairman William “Butch” …