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| (Image Source: East Asia Super League) |
The East Asia Super League (EASL) has officially confirmed its 12th and final team for the 2025–2026 season: the winner of Japan’s 2025 Emperor’s Cup. This announcement solidifies the participation of three B.LEAGUE teams in the upcoming season, further strengthening Japan’s presence in Asia’s premier basketball competition. The inclusion of the 2025 Emperor’s Cup champion not only boosts the level of competition but also aligns with the centennial celebration of the historic tournament, adding prestige and narrative weight to the upcoming season.
Japanese clubs have excelled since EASL’s inaugural 2023–2024 campaign. Teams from the B.LEAGUE have posted a combined 23-7 record and captured back-to-back EASL championships, highlighting their dominance and consistency on the continental stage. “As the Champions League of Asian basketball, EASL is committed to showcasing the continent’s elite talent. We are honored to welcome a third Japanese team, especially the 2025 Emperor’s Cup winner. The rise of Japanese basketball has been extraordinary, and the B.LEAGUE continues to establish itself as one of the world’s premier leagues. This addition reinforces our mission to deliver top-tier competition and thrilling action to fans across the region,” said EASL CEO Henry Kerins. The 2025 Emperor’s Cup champion, the Ryukyu Golden Kings, will make their third consecutive appearance in the EASL. In their most recent campaign, Ryukyu dominated the group stage with a league-best 5-1 record and advanced to the EASL Final Four 2025.
To ensure fair and competitive representation, EASL has outlined a clear contingency plan. If the Emperor’s Cup winner also reaches the 2024–2025 B.LEAGUE Finals, their EASL berth will pass to the Cup’s runner-up. If both the winner and runner-up qualify for the B.LEAGUE Finals, the EASL spot will be awarded to the highest-seeded semifinalist. This ensures that Japan’s most deserving teams remain in the EASL spotlight, preserving the league’s competitive balance and appeal. Final confirmation of all Japanese teams competing in the 2025–2026 EASL season will be announced following the conclusion of the 2024–2025 B.LEAGUE playoffs.
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Pink Argonauts Golf Tournament Boosts Dive Tourism In Batangas
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| Monch Henares and Marivic Maramot of The Pink Argonauts, Felino A. Neri and General Pio Dinoso of ARMSCOR, and Carlo Quimson of Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort gracing the Ceremonial Tee-Off of the 2nd Pink Argonauts Golf Tournament (Image Source: Manila Standard/The Pink Argonauts) |
The recently concluded 2nd Pink Argonauts Golf Tournament was a swinging success. The much-awaited golf event was participated by 105 golfers from different parts of the country. This was held last May 9, 2025 at the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas. Monch Henares and Marivic Maramot of The Pink Argonauts, Felino A. Neri and General Pio Dinoso of ARMSCOR, and Carlo Quimson of Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort graced the Ceremonial Tee-Off. The proceeds of this event directly go to the scholars of The Pink Argonaut’s “Zero To Hero Dive Master Program” which offers a transformative journey from novice to certified Dive Master, combining diving skills with marine conservation. The scholars, who are composed of fisherfolk, boatmen, and tricycle drivers residing in Mabini, Batangas, learn the discipline of underwater exploration while actively engaging in conservation efforts. In return, the new graduates will promote dive tourism as Professional Dive Guides in their locality.
The Pink Argonauts (TPA), composed of a group of divers, golfers, and conservationists, share their passion through the sport they love, and at the same time, are taking this opportunity to give back to the community where they operate. The TPA is a brainchild of Tessa Neri, and Marivic Verdadero-Maramot while its Founding Members are Jocs Reyes, Dinah Duran, Brie Reyes, Arabelle Jimenez, Monch Henares, Joedyn Padua, Danny Luz, Mary Ann Luz, and Marco Santos. The 2nd Pink Argonauts Golf Tournament is supported by the Department of Tourism CALABARZON Region IV-A and co-presented by Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Batangas Scuba Academy, Pacifica Dive, and PADI with BuildMeUp Corporation, Let’s Golf Pare, and Ocean Geographic as event partners; Armscor Global Defense, Inc., Bank of Singapore, and Scubapro as major sponsors; and a HONGQi luxury sedan and 3 Strokes Apparel as Hole-In-One prizes. In the Ladies Class A division, Marie Guerrero emerged as champion with Cristel Seraphine as runner-up. Hedy Gaisano-See took the top spot in Ladies Class B, followed by Abi Manlongat in second place. In Ladies Class C, Pia Marie Gonzales was crowned champion and Tesha Berza was runner-up.
For the Men’s Division, Fern Zardarriaga triumphed in Class A with Clay Vasquez as runner-up. Jerry Buerrano secured the championship in Class B, followed by Josef Olave. In Class C, Reynaldo Dascil claimed victory, and Randy Santiago took second place. The Overall Gross Champion was Carlo Quimson while the Overall Net Champion title went to Benjie Lim. The 2nd Pink Argonauts Golf Tournament successfully combined the love for golf with a deeper mission — fostering environmental awareness and community empowerment.
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NAVI Bets Big On MLBB With Empress Takeover
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Natus Vincere) |
Popular global eSports organization Natus Vincere, known as NAVI, has officially entered the Philippines’ Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) eSports scene through a historic acquisition of Smart Omega Empress (OMGE). NAVI General Manager Jonathan Yuwono said, “The Philippines has a rich history of eSports and MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) titles. NAVI feels this is the perfect opportunity to enter the Philippine eSports ecosystem and become a part of a growing eSports and MLBB community. Being a part of the Philippines MLBB ecosystem via Smart Omega Empress is a stepping stone to doing something bigger in this region. More info to come.”
“NAVI’s acquisition of Smart Omega Empress, a crowned MLBB eSports women’s team, signals the growth of the ecosystem that fosters a sustainable pathway, especially for young Filipinas who aspire to be professional eSports athletes. We are delighted to welcome NAVI to the home of the MLBB world champions,” said PH eSports Head of Business Development and Partnerships Lee Viloria. OMGE is the reigning queen of MLBB eSports who took home the championship title from MLBB Women’s Invitational (MWI) at the eSports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last year. The team is currently vying to get a back-to-back title in the MWI PH Qualifier, Athena League, which is scheduled to host its playoffs on May 23-25, 2025. Yumono added, “Smart Omega Empress has a history of winning internationally and at the highest levels. That is what NAVI is all about — we are born to win and are always exploring opportunities to acquire the best teams in their respective fields and game titles. We expect this team to continue pushing the boundaries of what women can achieve, not only in MLBB competitions, but also in the community of young female gamers that look up to them.”
Aside from OMGE, NAVI also signed a deal with Malaysia’s Arcane. The Malaysian MLBB women’s squad has already qualified for the MWI at EWC 2025. In a statement, the organization stated, “We thank [Smart] Omega [Empress] and Arcane eSports clubs for the smoothly organized buyout process and look forward to new NAVI rosters performing on the international stage.”
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Paramount Global Content Distribution To Launch New All-Wrestling FAST Channel Wrestling Central Featuring WOW – Women Of Wrestling And National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) On The Roku Channel In U.S. And Canada
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| (Image Source: Variety/Paramount Global Content Distribution) |
Paramount Global Content Distribution is set to launch an all wrestling FAST (Free Ad Supported Television) channel called Wrestling Central coming soon on The Roku Channel in the U.S. and Canada. The new channel will feature new weekly matches from WOW – Women Of Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) along with an extensive library of content including classic episodes, never-before-seen matches, specials and documentaries.
“We are thrilled to be launching a new wrestling FAST channel which includes WOW – Women Of Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance to a wider audience. This new FAST Channel premiering exclusively on The Roku Channel from two of the most exciting wrestling promotions will offer fans an exclusive and unique destination to catch both new, action-packed matches along with hundreds of hours of classic library content,” said Paramount Chief Content Licensing Officer and Republic Pictures President Dan Cohen. Currently in its third season distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution, WOW – Women Of Wrestling is the premier all-female sports entertainment property, co-owned and co-founded by trailblazing sports executive Jeanie Buss and David McLane, who is the founder of the original GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Led by the larger-than-life WOW Superheroes and their in-ring rivalries, WOW is an action-packed saga that plays out at high-energy live events and in weekly syndication. As the only all-female wrestling organization with a global footprint, WOW showcases supreme athleticism, dramatic and inspiring stories, and is centered 24/7 around empowering and uplifting women and fans around the world.
The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the most legendary promotion in professional wrestling history, the oldest wrestling brand in the world. Founded in 1948 with humble beginnings in the Midwest, it was the sole governing body for professional wrestling until the 1960s and remained the most influential body until the mid-1980s. It has been home to iconic stars like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Dory & Terry Funk, Sting, and current NWA World Champions Thom Latimer and Kenzie Paige. In 2017, global rockstar and Smashing Pumpkins frontman William Patrick “Billy” Corgan purchased the NWA to restore the alliance to its former glory. Now with packed matches all over the U.S., streaming on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube as well as an unscripted television series on Peacock and Prime Video, the NWA is once more a force in professional wrestling in its own right.
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A Massive Turnout In Shopwise Bike Fest At Vermosa
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Sunrise Events Inc.) |
Nearly 3,000 cyclists of all ages converged at the Vermosa Sports Hub last May 17, 2025 for the second and even more exhilarating edition of the Shopwise Bike Fest, an event dedicated to promoting health, fitness, and unity. Riders from all walks of life, including recreational cyclists and seasoned athletes, participated in the high-energy gathering.
The event was graced by prominent figures such as Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. President and CEO Stanley Co, Christine Torres, Kevin Legarde, Felin Inolino, Philippine Sports Commission Chair Dickie Bachmann, triathlete Ani de Leon-Brown, TV host Kara David, and celebrity Ira Lopez. The festival served as another milestone in Shopwise’s growing campaign to foster wellness and togetherness through dynamic, community-focused events. Organizers celebrated the strong turnout as a testament to the public’s rising enthusiasm for active, healthy lifestyles. “Cycling isn’t just a sport – it’s a lifestyle and a movement,” said Sunrise Events Inc. president and general manager Princess Galura.
Beyond the excitement of the ride, the Shopwise Bike Fest also served a deeper purpose – to inspire health consciousness across diverse demographics. Families, fitness enthusiasts and community members unite in their shared pursuit of a better quality of life through an active lifestyle. The event also served to reinforce Imus City’s growing reputation as a hub for community-centered wellness initiatives. Meanwhile, the Vermosa Sports Hub reaffirmed its commitment to championing health-forward activities, with hopes to host even more enriching events in the future.
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Tee Off With Celebrities At 10th Sylpauljoyce Golf Cup On June 26, 2025
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| At the 9th Sylpauljoyce Cup Golf Tournament last year, L-R: Randy Santiago, Solano Group of Companies Chairman Charles Solano, Dingdong Avanzado (Image Source: Manila Standard/Sylpauljoyce Corporation) |
Golf enthusiasts and celebrity-watchers alike are invited to tee off in style at the 10th Sylpauljoyce Cup Golf Tournament, taking place on June 26, 2025 at the breathtaking Summit Point Golf & Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas. Now celebrating its milestone 10th year, the Sylpauljoyce Cup promises more than just top-tier golf — it’s a full-day celebration of sport, style, and social good.
With registration opening at 5:00 am and a shotgun start at 6:30 am, players will take to the greens in true System 36 format, ensuring a fair and competitive round for all. The tournament fee is Php4,500 for club members and Php5,500 for non-members. This all-inclusive package covers the green fee, cart sharing, insurance, a sumptuous lunch buffet, exciting raffle prizes, and exclusive giveaways — because every swing deserves a reward. The day concludes with an elegant awarding ceremony at the Solano Hotel where top performers and lucky raffle winners will be celebrated. Beyond the competition, the event is anchored in a meaningful mission as proceeds will benefit the St. Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Taysan, Batangas.
“It’s more than a tournament — it’s a celebration on the green. Whether you’re here to play, connect, or give back, you’re part of something special,” said tournament organizer Hazel Joyce Solano. Spots are limited. To register, scan the QR code on the official event poster or email sales@solanohotels.com. Payments can be made via GCash to Hazel Joyce Solano at 0917 550 9596 or through bank deposit to Sylpauljoyce Corporation – Account No: 005960059933.
