Ohtani shaking off injuries as Dodgers launch post-season

Manila Times - Oct 3, 2026

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers expect superstar Shohei Ohtani to be nearing full strength when they take on the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series with an eye on a third straight World Series title. The four-time Most Valuable Player, who landed in the injured list with nagging left knee and right biceps injuries late in the regular season, has benefitted from five days off as the 100-win Dodgers enjoyed a first-round bye, manager Dave Roberts said. “I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time. “Every day from the training staff, it keeps getting better... he’ll be a threat in the lineup.” The Dodgers are chasing the first World Series three-peat since the New York Yankees won it all in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Tarik Skubal — the two-time reigning Cy Young Award-winner acquired from Detroit in August to bolster that bid — is expected to start game one of the best-of-five series against the Braves on Saturday. The Milwaukee Brewers, the top seeds in the...

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Oct 3, 2026

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Public transport fares rise in E. Visayas amid higher fuel costs

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BFP claims majority in BARMM Parliament with 46-seat coalition

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Yape named PH flag bearer for Asian Games closing 

Oct 3, 2026

Yape named PH flag bearer for Asian Games closing 

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Enriquez snags silver in Asian Games jiu jitsu

Oct 3, 2026

Enriquez snags silver in Asian Games jiu jitsu

ALEXANDRIA Luz Enriquez spearheaded the Philippine fight in the 20th Asian Games jiu jitsu competitions, taking a silver medal in the women’s -63kg on the final day of the continental meet in Japan on Saturday. With world champions Annie Ramirez and Kimberly Custodio suffering early exits, Enriquez rose as the gold medal contender for the Filipinos by reaching the final. Unfortunately, Enriquez bowed to Orapa Senatham of Thailand in a tightly-contested bout at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall Mat 2. Despite a 0 scorecard, the Thai won over the Filipino as she scored an advantage for a near-pass or near-sweep. Senatham almost held Enriquez down, but she rolled over and scrambled out before getting a point. In jiu-jitsu, a player must hold their opponent down for at least three seconds to earn a point from the judges. Enriquez started her campaign with wins over Palestinian Dania Obaid and Kazakh Marian Zhuravleva in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. The 27-year-old then defeated Mongolian Narakhishig Baasanjargal in the semifinals to enter the gold medal round. A gold medalist at the Asian Beach Games, Enriquez increased the Philippine jiujitsu team’s medal haul this Asian Games to two after Kaila Napolis’ bronze on Friday. Napolis defeated Mongolian Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0, in the women’s 52kg division battle for third place. Meanwhile, another Filipino bet Andea Lois Lao finished just outside the podium after a 0-2 loss to Baasanjargal. Other Philippine jiujitsu artists Vito Luis Luzuriaga and David Miranda suffered early exits on Saturday, falling to Mongolian counterparts. Luzuriaga yielded to Altangerel Bayarkhuu in the men’s 85kg round of 32, while Miranda bowed to Batbayar Batsukh also in the round of 32 in the same weight division.

PBA expects crop of talent   

Oct 3, 2026

PBA expects crop of talent   

DESPITE the exodus of Filipino cage talents who now play overseas in Japan and South Korea, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial remains optimistic that the pro league’s next rookie draft in Jan. 2027 will welcome a fresh influx of talents from the collegiate ranks. Marcial said the pro league will be holding the annual PBA Rookie Draft on Jan. 17, 2027. “I’ve heard from many of our basketball friends that the coming draft will be talent heavy, especially those coming from the UAAP and the NCAA since the tournaments are already done by December,” Marcial told The Manila Times in Filipino. Even players from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League are expected to join the draft, which could bring in young blood for Asia’s first professional league. Geo Chiu, who helped the Abra Weavers win the 2025 MPBL championship, in fact, emerged as the top pick in last year’s rookie draft. The talent depth could potentially attract former Ateneo big man Kymani Ladi, recent Asian Games Gilas 3x3 player Nic Cabanero, former Adamson forward Cedrick Manzano, Forth Padrigao, along with Fil-Americans DJ Fenner and Remy Martin, who recently played for Strong Group in the Williams Jones Cup. While the pro league has significantly lost major Filipino basketball talents, as some have opt to sign and play in the Japan B. League and Korean Basketball League, Marcial welcomed the competition from overseas. The league chieftain also maintained that the PBA remains unique, in that, it continues to provide a solid path for players who used to play overseas to continue their careers in the Philippines. “(Playing overseas) It has been there to provide livelihood for the players. That’s fine with us in the PBA. And they (Japanese and Korean pro leagues) are not threats,” he said. “We also know some of them will still come back and play in the PBA.”

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