By Lucio Gabor

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and key sports and education stakeholders have called for sweeping reforms in the coaching profession, stressing that better education, training, and regulation of coaches are essential to safeguarding the welfare of Filipino athletes.

SINGAPORE -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that Los LA Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and NBA champion Mitch Richmond will attend the second annual NBA Rising Stars Invitational.

TOKYO – Nagasaki Velca beat Ryukyu in Game 3 to win the Japan Professional Basketball League "B.LEAGUE" Resona Group B championship at the Yokohama Arena. 

After four days of high-energy action and amazing treats for basketball fans, the B.LEAGUE FINAL WEEK in MANILA 2026 capped off with an exhilarating finish on Sunday, May 24, at the Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall.

Day 4 featured the B.LEAGUE FINALS 2026 Game 2 Viewing Party. Fans were on the edge of their seats as NAGASAKI VELCA fought to keep their championship hopes alive against the RYUKYU GOLDEN KINGS.

Dominating the game right from the first quarter, NAGASAKI VELCA maintained their lead despite a tense push from RYUKYU GOLDEN KINGS that brought the score to 60-52 with only a minute remaining on the clock. Ultimately, NAGASAKI VELCA held their ground to secure a crucial Game 2 victory with a final score of 66-60, officially stretching to a win-or-take-all Game 3.

Adding to the day's events was the B.Hope ASIA Jr. CLINIC 2026 in Manila supported by NISSEI. Holding its second day of specialized coaching sessions for the youth, the clinic was proudly led by former B.LEAGUE star Thirdy Ravena, who helped children in Manila develop fundamental basketball skills and deepen their passion for the sport.

The finale capped a star-studded week of basketball action. Earlier in the event, Dwight Ramos and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. headlined Day 1 with the B. LEAGUE MANILA GAMES 2026 announcement and the B.Hope ASIA 1on1 CHALLENGE 2026 supported by Meiji. Francis Lopez then hyped up the YANMAR HANASAKA B.Hope ASIA 3x3 CHALLENGE 2026 on Day 2, followed by Kiefer

Ravena, who inspired fans on Day 3 as a guest commentator for the B.LEAGUE FINALS 2026 Game 1 Viewing Party and as a mentor during the B.Hope ASIA Jr. CLINIC 2026 supported by TOYOTA.

The four-day basketball festival wrapped up on a high note, marking a highly successful end to the B.LEAGUE FINAL WEEK in MANILA 2026 - but the basketball fever is far from over as the excitement continues with the upcoming preseason titled B.LEAGUE MANILA GAMES 2026, happening on September 9 and 10 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

To watch Game 3 and get the latest updates, make sure to follow the new B.LEAGUE Philippines Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages. The B.LEAGUE FINAL WEEK is proudly sponsored by TOYOTA, NISSEI, YANMAR, MEIJI, JCB, EPSON, MOLTEN, and PGA SOMPO.

The basketball action continues to heat up as heartstrong Filipino ballers battled it out at the YANMAR HANASAKA B.Hope ASIA 3x3 CHALLENGE 2026, the Day 2 highlight of the B.LEAGUE FINAL WEEK at the Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall.

The Japan Professional Basketball League, more popularly known as the B.LEAGUE, is bringing its first-ever overseas games to the Philippines on Sept. 9-10 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in a historic celebration of basketball and friendship between Japan and the Philippines.