The USC Vamos Warriors Valorant team. | CEL photo CEBU CITY, Philippines — The University of San Carlos (USC) Vamos Warriors kept their championship hopes alive in the Cesafi Esports League (CEL) Season 3 Valorant tournament after a dominant lower bracket victory against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Adelante Jaguars. USC, last year’s runners-up, swept USJ-R, 2-0, in their best-of-three showdown held at the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) campus, securing a spot in the lower bracket semifinals last Sunday, April 6. Johanssen Abatayo and King Clarence Toston led the charge for the Vamos Warriors, shining in Games 1…

Rosanna A. Fajardo is new Country Managing Partner of SGV & Co. MANILA, Philippines — Auditing firm SGV & Co. named Rossana Fajardo — who has a wealth of experience in digital transformation, risk and finance — as its new country managing partner. Fajardo will officially take over the role on July 1, 2025, replacing Wilson Tan, SGV said in a statement. Article continues after this advertisement “In her new role, she will lead SGV’s strategic initiatives aimed at driving transformational and sustainable growth,” the company said. Fajardo currently holds the positions of SGV Consulting Leader and EY Asean Business…

TAMPA, Fla. — Azzi Fudd pointed toward the rim: “It’s your turn.” Paige Bueckers glanced at the hoop, smiled, pulled her ballcap down and started climbing. Finally, Bueckers got to the top of the ladder, put a piece of nylon between the blades of a pair of scissors and squeezed the orange handles together. Snip. Snip. She had cut down nets before in what has so far been a decorated career playing basketball — first catching the attention of the greater public with middle school highlights that went viral before evolving into a high school phenom and then a collegiate…

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino successfully hosted the Chaine Des Rotisseurs Cebu Bailliage on its 32nd Dinner Induction Amical, a grand celebration of gastronomy and camaraderie, on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the hotel. The event showcased Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino’s dedication to hosting grand events as well as Chaine Des Rotisseurs passion for promoting the appreciation of fine dining. The event, themed “Edible Masterpieces,” paid homage to the iconic works of the legendary artist Vincent Van Gogh, transforming the ballroom into a canvas of culinary artistry. 100 members, including the esteemed…

The women’s college basketball season is over. It ended on Sunday in Tampa, Florida where UConn won its 12th national championship by beating South Carolina 82-59 behind the stellar play of the Huskies’ big three — Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong. But a lot of fans of this sport have short attention spans. Instead of focusing on the why and how of UConn’s win over South Carolina, they’ve moved on to next season, which is already beginning to take shape. As the NCAA Tournament has gone on, the coaching carousel has been spinning and the transfer portal has…

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese coast guard vessel blocked a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol ship near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on Sunday, causing a near collision, in the latest flare-up of tensions over the disputed waters. The PCG’s 44-meter patrol vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) was heading to the southwest part of Panatag, also called Bajo de Masinloc, when China Coast Guard (CCG) 3302 started shadowing the ship some 176 kilometers (95 nautical miles) west northwest of Capones Island, Zambales, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told the Inquirer. READ: 19 Chinese vessels spotted in Ayungin, Panatag…

Alcohol sales in the Philippines are projected to sustain a single-digit annual growth despite the 6 percent increase in excise tax for alcohol products in January. “Despite the annual increase in excise tax, traders are optimistic that sales of alcohol products, both local and imported, will grow 5 percent to 7 percent each year,” the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a report. Under Republic Act No. 11467, the excise tax on distilled spirits increased by 6 percent on Jan. 1 this year and will continue to rise at a fixed rate of 6 percent annually. Article continues after…

His race engineer Gianpiero “GP” Lambiase called it “perfection.” His team principal Christian Horner called it “inspirational.” One rival called it “magical,” while another said that “nothing is a surprise anymore.” In a career running out of superlatives, Max Verstappen’s performance at the Japanese Grand Prix left those around him searching for the best way to describe what they just witnessed, as he first took pole position and then captured his first win of the season. Verstappen and Red Bull arrived in Suzuka facing more questions than answers. The team was third in the Constructors’ Championship race and made the…

Fil-Am Nation Select-USA’s Angelino Mark during the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals. – (NBTC/Hero Dela Pena) MANILA, Philippines—FilAm Nation Select-USA remained  the king of the Smart-NBTC National Finals following its win over Phenom Blue Fire-Pasay at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. The FilAm Nation squad defeated Pasay, 64-59, in the 2025 Final to win its second title in two years in the annual 19-under basketball tournament. Despite being ejected in the second half of the all-important ball game, Angelino Mark’s 32-piece was more than enough to steer Select-USA to the title. The duo of Cody Shen and Caelum Harris also…

Duke’s coronation was all but written late in the second half against Houston in the 2025 men’s Final Four. The Blue Devils led by 14 points with just over eight minutes left, putting the program on the doorstep of the national championship game. Duke’s talent advantage was overwhelming: Cooper Flagg was living up to the generational hype with a brilliant performance, Kon Knueppel knocked down outside shots to show why he’s a lottery pick, and Khaman Maluach towered over everyone on the court to show why he’s one, too. Duke’s latest freshman super team was too good to fail. Just…