Red Bull Half Court World Finals Head to Manila on December 5

Red Bull Half Court World Finals Head to Manila on December 5

Friday, September 25, 2026

Manila is set to become the global stage for streetball as the Red Bull Half Court World Finals comes to the Philippines for the first time on December 5, 2026.

National champions from 13 countries will gather in Manila to compete for the Red Bull Half Court title, bringing together 3-on-3 basketball, street culture, art, and the energy of the local basketball community.

The sixth season of Red Bull Half Court has already seen national competitions take place across countries including the Philippines, India, Egypt, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, and Ukraine.

What to expect at the Red Bull Half Court World Finals in Manila

The 2026 World Finals will take players and fans to two very different sides of Manila.

The group phase will take place at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, giving the tournament a historic backdrop as teams compete for a spot in the Finals.

The competition will then move to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for Finals day, where the remaining teams will battle for the championship.

The combination of Intramuros and BGC puts the tournament against two distinct Manila settings, from one of the city's historic landmarks to one of its modern business and lifestyle districts.

Who will compete in Manila?

National champions from 13 countries are expected to compete at the World Finals.

Several teams have already secured their places, including Team 911 from India, Team Sinatra from North Macedonia, and the Philippines' own JSKILLS, who won the men's national title.

For the women's competition, Pilipinas Aguilas will represent the Philippines.

Egypt will be represented by Team Hustlers and Bad Luck, while additional national champions will be confirmed as qualifying competitions continue.

Basketball personalities coming to Manila

The World Finals will also bring several recognizable names from the international basketball and streetball scene to the Philippines.

Streetball personality Grayson “The Professor” Boucher and shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews are set to join the event.

They will be joined by Polish Red Bull athlete and dunker Piotr “Grabo” Grabowski and Filipino dunking star David “Air David” Carlos, a FIBA 3x3 World Tour Dunk Contest winner.

The lineup adds a mix of streetball, shooting, and dunking talent to the competition.

What is Red Bull Half Court?

Red Bull Half Court is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament built around a fast-paced format. Games are limited to 10 minutes, with the first team to reach 21 points winning.

The competition also includes an additional scoring element: two special three-point circles positioned behind the regular three-point arc. This gives players another opportunity to score while adding a risk-and-reward component to the game.

During pool play, teams can also earn an “Own the Court” bonus based on their scoring performance, which can help determine advancement to the next stage.

The format is designed to keep games short and high-scoring, making it suited to the quicker rhythm associated with streetball.

Design a basketball court for Red Bull Half Court

The World Finals will also include a creative component for Filipino basketball and street-art fans.

Through Red Bull Design My Court, local designers, street-art enthusiasts, and basketball fans can submit designs for a basketball court they would like to see brought to life.

Submissions will be accepted from September 28 to October 21, 2026.

The initiative gives local creatives an opportunity to contribute to the visual identity of the event while combining basketball with street art and design.

Red Bull Half Court has held World Finals around the world

Manila becomes the latest host city for the Red Bull Half Court World Finals.

Since the tournament launched in 2021, previous World Finals have been held in Rome, Cairo, Belgrade, New York City, and Dubai.

The 2026 edition brings the global competition to the Philippines for the first time, putting Manila alongside those international host cities.

With basketball deeply embedded in Philippine popular culture, the Manila event will bring together local basketball fans and national champions from around the world for two days of competition, entertainment, and street culture.

The Red Bull Half Court World Finals takes place in Manila on December 5, 2026.

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DAELUX Makes P-Pop Pre-Debut With ‘Like That’

DAELUX Makes P-Pop Pre-Debut With ‘Like That’

Davao-based girl group DAELUX is beginning its P-Pop journey with “Like That,” its first release since partnering with Sony Music Entertainment.

The seven-member group introduces itself through an upbeat pop track about the uncertainty that comes with liking someone and wondering whether the feeling is mutual.

Rather than treating the situation as a heavy heartbreak story, “Like That” keeps things light. Its playful lyrics and bouncy production capture the familiar experience of reading too much into small gestures, second-guessing signals, and wanting to know where a relationship might be headed.

For DAELUX, the song is also about being honest about emotions while maintaining a sense of self-worth.

“It’s okay to be vulnerable, as long as you also know your worth and what you truly deserve,” the group says.

A song about figuring out where you stand

“Like That” explores a stage of attraction that many young people can recognize: the excitement of developing feelings mixed with the uncertainty of not knowing whether to act on them.

That duality is part of what DAELUX wants to establish as part of its musical identity. The group balances a youthful and free-spirited sound with more emotional themes surrounding relationships, self-expression, and growing into oneself.

The members also approached the recording process by reconnecting with a younger, more innocent perspective on love.

“While recording, we tried to bring ourselves back to a younger and more innocent feeling, when you’re still a little unsure and inexperienced when it comes to love,” DAELUX shares.

DAELUX members contribute to the track

“Like That” was produced by Pao Lofranco, with AndreaH serving as co-writer. DAELUX also contributed ideas during the songwriting and production process, with the group and its creative team revising the track several times before arriving at its final arrangement.

The members’ individual voices were also considered in the song’s vocal arrangement. Their vocal coach, Ma’am Shelley, helped develop the harmonies and distribute the vocal parts to highlight the distinct qualities of each member.

The result is a track designed around the group's collective sound while giving each member room to contribute to its vocal character.

A P-Pop story rooted in Davao

DAELUX is made up of seven members from Davao: CK, Alice, Ara, Rhya, Slane, Zyra, and Riri.

The group’s Davao identity extends beyond its members. The creative team involved in its music and performance video also comes from the city, giving DAELUX a homegrown creative network behind its early work.

That connection is an important part of the group's introduction to the P-Pop scene. While the group is now working with Sony Music Entertainment, its artistic foundation remains closely connected to the Davao community where it began.

For DAELUX, its partnership with Sony Music Philippines represents an opportunity to develop its music while reaching listeners beyond its hometown.

“Being part of Sony Music is a huge opportunity for us. It gives us the chance to learn, grow, and take our music more seriously as artists,” the group says. “Working with them has also encouraged us to think bigger while still staying true to who DAELUX is.”

“Like That” marks an early step in that journey, introducing DAELUX through a song that combines youthful pop energy with a familiar question about love: what happens when you like someone and simply want to know if they feel the same way?

DAELUX’s “Like That” is now available on digital music platforms worldwide through Sony Music Entertainment.

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Ben&Ben Marks Nine Years With New Album ‘Nine’

Ben&Ben Marks Nine Years With New Album ‘Nine’

Ben&Ben celebrates nine years as a band with Nine, a nine-track anthology that revisits some of the group's defining songs while introducing a new track, “Harinawa.”

The album looks back at the band's musical journey without treating its earlier work as finished chapters. Instead, Ben&Ben re-recorded and reworked selected songs from its catalog to reflect how its members have developed as musicians and performers since the band's formation.

For the group and its fanbase, known as Liwanag, Nine connects the band's early years with its present sound while pointing toward what comes next.

What is Ben&Ben’s ‘Nine’ album?

Nine is a nine-track anthology built around songs that represent different points in Ben&Ben's nine-year journey.

Rather than simply compiling previously released recordings, the band revisited the material and changed elements of the arrangements, instrumentation and production.

The approach allowed the members to record familiar songs from their perspective in 2026, after years of performing them on stage and developing together as a nine-piece group.

Lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist Paolo Benjamin described the process as allowing the songs to “grow up” with the band.

The reworked recordings retain the emotional character associated with Ben&Ben while reflecting the musicians' experiences since the original songs were created.

Why did Ben&Ben reimagine its earlier songs?

The members approached the project as an opportunity to revisit music that had accompanied significant stages of their career.

The band's nine years included extensive live performances, collaborations and experiences with listeners that changed how the musicians understood their own material.

For Nine, those experiences became part of the production process.

Lead guitarist and backing vocalist Poch Barretto said the band drew inspiration from its years of performing, including experiences on stage and with Liwanag. The group also wanted to bring the chemistry of its live performances into the studio.

That meant balancing the spontaneity and energy of a concert with the detail possible in a studio recording.

The result is intended to sound familiar without simply reproducing the original recordings.

Which Ben&Ben song is featured as the album’s focus track?

The album's focus track is “Maybe the Night (Reimagined)”, a song with particular significance in Ben&Ben's history.

The original “Maybe the Night” was the first song the nine members worked on collectively from beginning to end. The band arranged the song during a session in Jam Villanueva's attic in 2017.

The reimagined version brings that early composition into the band's current musical perspective.

Bassist Agnes Reoma recalled the song's importance to the group's early journey, including performances and opportunities that followed its release.

Nearly a decade later, the track provides a direct connection between the band's beginnings and the musicians they have become.

What is new about ‘Harinawa’?

While much of Nine looks backward, the album ends with something entirely new.

“Harinawa” was written and completed in 2026, making it the anthology's forward-looking piece.

The song provides a transition between the band's retrospective material and its next chapter. Rather than ending solely with a look at the past, Ben&Ben uses the new song to leave the album open-ended.

That structure gives Nine two distinct functions: it revisits the music that established the band while introducing listeners to where its songwriting is heading next.

Who worked on Ben&Ben’s ‘Nine’?

The album brought together musicians and collaborators who have been part of Ben&Ben's creative history.

JP Verona, who has worked with the group since its first album, contributed his familiarity with the band's established sound.

Producer Ziv brought another perspective to the project, while Poch Barretto led the album's overall production.

The recordings also include Luke and Eo on drums for songs recorded during Jam Villanueva's recovery from an injury.

The album's visual identity was developed by photographer and visual artist Sara Erasmo, whose work for the project reflects its themes of memory and the band's journey.

What does ‘Nine’ mean for Ben&Ben?

For a band that has spent nearly a decade recording and performing together, Nine functions as both an archive and a creative reset.

The album allows Ben&Ben to revisit songs that helped establish its identity while acknowledging that the musicians who originally created them have changed.

It also gives longtime Liwanag members another way to hear familiar songs, while providing newer listeners with an introduction to some of the band's catalog.

Percussionist and backing vocalist Toni Muñoz said the group hopes the nine songs can accompany listeners wherever they are in their lives.

With “Harinawa” closing the collection, Nine ultimately looks in two directions: toward the experiences that shaped Ben&Ben and toward the music that may follow.

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The Kid LAROI Releases ‘GET EVEN’ With GIVĒON

The Kid LAROI Releases ‘GET EVEN’ With GIVĒON

The Kid LAROI has released “GET EVEN,” a new single featuring R&B singer GIVĒON, following the recent release of his track “SLEEP.”

The collaboration marks the first time LAROI and GIVĒON have worked together on a song. “GET EVEN” arrives with a music video directed by Ayodeji, who also directed the visual for LAROI’s “SLEEP,” released in August.

The new release comes as LAROI prepares to begin the UK and European leg of his A PERFECT WORLD tour later this year.

Who is featured on The Kid LAROI’s ‘GET EVEN’?

“GET EVEN” brings together LAROI and GIVĒON for their first recorded collaboration.

LAROI, the Australian singer and rapper behind hits including “Stay” with Justin Bieber and “Without You,” has continued releasing music following his 2023 album THE FIRST TIME.

GIVĒON is known for his distinctive R&B vocals and collaborations with artists including Drake and Justin Bieber. His solo work includes the Grammy-nominated song “Heartbreak Anniversary.”

The pairing brings LAROI’s pop and hip-hop background together with GIVĒON’s R&B style.

Who directed the ‘GET EVEN’ music video?

The music video for “GET EVEN” was directed by Ayodeji, marking the director’s second visual collaboration with LAROI within a matter of weeks.

Ayodeji also directed the music video for “SLEEP,” which arrived at the end of August.

The two videos therefore form a recent visual run for LAROI as he introduces the new material.

Why are ‘GET EVEN’ and ‘SLEEP’ connected to LAROI’s earlier work?

Both “GET EVEN” and “SLEEP” originated from an earlier album project created by LAROI before BEFORE I FORGET.

That project was eventually scrapped, but LAROI revisited material from the sessions and identified the two songs as tracks that he still wanted audiences to hear.

The releases offer a glimpse into music created during an earlier stage of his artistic development while becoming part of his current body of work.

When does The Kid LAROI’s A PERFECT WORLD tour begin?

The Kid LAROI will begin the UK and European leg of his A PERFECT WORLD tour on October 27 in Birmingham, England.

The tour is scheduled to conclude on November 17 in the Czech Republic.

The European dates follow the release of “GET EVEN” and give fans an opportunity to hear LAROI perform material from his current era alongside his previous releases.

The Kid LAROI UK and European tour

October 27: Birmingham

November 17: Czech Republic

Additional dates are scheduled between the opening and closing shows.

Fans should check LAROI’s official channels and ticketing partners for the complete tour schedule, venues and ticket information.

Listen to ‘GET EVEN’

“GET EVEN” is now available alongside its Ayodeji-directed music video.

The collaboration adds another chapter to LAROI’s current run of releases while introducing a new creative partnership with GIVĒON.

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AXEAN Festival 2026 Draws 4,000 to Bali for Southeast Asian Music

AXEAN Festival 2026 Draws 4,000 to Bali for Southeast Asian Music

AXEAN Festival 2026 brought more than 4,000 attendees to Jimbaran Hub in Bali for three days of Southeast Asian music, industry networking and cultural exchange.

The latest edition of the regional music showcase and conference marked the festival's third consecutive year at Jimbaran Hub. Organizers said attendance, including private events, nearly doubled compared with the previous edition.

The festival brought together musicians, music professionals, international delegates and audiences from across the region, combining live performances with meetings, panels, pitching sessions and networking activities.

What happened at AXEAN Festival 2026?

AXEAN Festival 2026 featured artists from Southeast Asia and beyond across a three-stage setup, alongside conference and networking activities for music professionals.

Indonesian artist Ndarboy Genk was among the performers who drew audiences together through a repertoire rooted in dangdut, koplo and Javanese pop.

His performance also reflected one of AXEAN's objectives: creating opportunities for audiences to discover music from different countries, genres and cultural backgrounds in the same setting.

Festival co-founder and co-team leader Piyapong Muenprasertdee, also known as Py, said audience interaction across different musical styles was one of the indicators of the festival's success.

The festival also expanded activities beyond the main program, with a Southeast Asian street food hawker center and an arts and crafts area aimed at making the event more accessible to younger audiences and families.

Why was KEXP's participation significant?

One of the most notable developments at this year's festival was the participation of KEXP, the Seattle-based nonprofit music station and media organization.

AXEAN said the festival became KEXP's first Asian festival partner for its Live at KEXP program.

Twelve Southeast Asian artists were filmed and recorded at two Bali locations, Locca Sea House and Puri Bhagawan, giving their performances an opportunity to reach KEXP's international audience.

For Southeast Asian musicians, exposure through international music platforms can provide another route for audiences and industry professionals outside their home markets to discover their work.

The partnership also demonstrates how music festivals can function as more than live-performance events. They can serve as points of connection between artists, media organizations, promoters and other players in the international music ecosystem.

How did AXEAN connect Southeast Asian music professionals?

The festival's conference component included speed meetings, pitching sessions and panel discussions designed to connect music professionals from different markets.

Partner activities included a brunch hosted by Sounds Australia, programming from Korea Spotlight by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), and initiatives involving France's Centre national de la musique (CNM).

A VIP lounge supported by The Orchard and the festival's closing after-party also provided informal settings for artists and delegates to meet.

These activities are significant because music markets across Southeast Asia operate within different languages, business structures and cultural contexts. Regional events can give professionals opportunities to establish relationships that may eventually lead to collaborations, touring arrangements, licensing opportunities or other forms of cross-border activity.

Why does Bali remain important to the festival?

AXEAN Festival has held its event at Jimbaran Hub for three consecutive editions, making Bali an increasingly established part of its identity.

According to Py, the festival's connections with Bali's creative community also helped expand its local activities ahead of the main event.

Through its Bali-based correspondent Chika, AXEAN partnered with Craft Hotel in Ubud and Amplitude in Seminyak for pre-event activities, including panel discussions and live performances by Balinese artists.

The approach allowed the festival to connect with local creative communities rather than concentrating its activities solely around the main festival grounds.

What does AXEAN mean for Southeast Asian music?

AXEAN Festival was created around the idea of connecting music markets within Southeast Asia while giving artists opportunities to reach audiences and industry professionals beyond their home countries.

That regional focus is particularly relevant to artists working in markets where language and geography can limit international exposure.

Rather than treating Southeast Asian music as a single genre, the festival's programming brings together different musical traditions and contemporary styles.

The appearance of Indonesian dangdut and Javanese pop alongside artists from other Southeast Asian markets illustrates the diversity of the region's music ecosystem.

The festival's organizers say the longer-term goal is to strengthen Southeast Asia's position within the wider Asian music industry.

What comes next for AXEAN Festival?

AXEAN Festival plans to continue building its regional network through collaborations with other Asian music events and industry initiatives.

A songwriting camp is also planned following the festival as part of efforts to encourage further collaboration among music professionals.

The organizers intend to continue focusing on music discovery and the international promotion of Southeast Asian artists.

For the regional music industry, the significance of AXEAN lies not only in the number of people attending its Bali event, but also in the connections created among artists, media organizations, industry professionals and audiences from different markets.

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McDonald’s Chicken Fillet Gets More Value with Sulit Busog

McDonald’s Chicken Fillet Gets More Value with Sulit Busog

McDonald’s Philippines is giving customers more ways to make its Crispy Chicken Fillet meals more filling, with Sulit Busog options that let diners choose between extra rice and extra chicken fillet.

The new options start at ₱99 for Extra Rice and ₱129 for Extra Ulam, with a small Coke included. The offers cover the Crispy Chicken Fillet and selected variants, including Crispy Chicken Fillet Ala King and Golden Curry Fillet.

What are McDonald’s Sulit Busog Chicken Fillet Meals?

The Sulit Busog Meals are value-oriented McDonald’s meals designed around customers who want more food without moving into a higher-priced meal category.

For the Chicken Fillet options, customers can choose between adding more rice or getting an additional piece of chicken fillet.

The meals are available for dine-in, take-out, Drive-Thru, McDelivery and major food delivery platforms nationwide, according to the company.

Current food-delivery listings also show McDonald’s Sulit Busog category carrying two-piece versions of its Crispy Chicken Fillet, Ala King and Golden Curry Fillet meals, although prices can vary by location and ordering channel.

The two options cater to different ways Filipinos typically build a filling rice meal.

For diners who want more rice with their existing serving of chicken, the Extra Rice option provides that choice. Those who would rather have more of the main dish can opt for Extra Ulam.

That distinction is particularly relevant for rice-based meals, where the balance between the rice and viand can determine whether a meal feels sufficient.

McDonald’s has been expanding its Sulit Busog lineup beyond its traditional value offerings. In 2024, an Alliance Global filing noted that Crispy Chicken Fillet had been added to the McSavers Sulit-Busog Meals lineup and contributed to increased sales and customer visits during the period covered by the report.

A familiar McDonald’s meal gets more options

The Crispy Chicken Fillet has been part of McDonald’s Philippines’ menu for more than two decades, according to the company.

The current lineup goes beyond the original chicken fillet. Customers can also choose Crispy Chicken Fillet Ala King, which pairs the fillet with a creamy sauce, or Golden Curry Fillet, which offers a curry-based variation.

The Extra Rice promotion also reflects a broader pattern in the fast-food market: value is increasingly being presented not simply as a lower price, but as a meal that gives customers control over quantity and combination.

McDonald’s has previously promoted its Chicken Fillet variants with extra rice as part of the McSavers Sulit-Busog range. A January 2026 report by PhilSTAR Life noted that the three Chicken Fillet variants were being offered with extra rice and a drink under the value-meal program.

For consumers watching their food budget, the appeal is less complicated: the same familiar Chicken Fillet meal can now be adjusted depending on what makes the meal feel more satisfying.

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Sucere Foods Joins MassKara Festival 2026 in Bacolod

Sucere Foods Joins MassKara Festival 2026 in Bacolod

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Sucere Foods Corporation is joining the MassKara Festival 2026 in Bacolod City as a co-presenter and food partner, bringing its confectionery brands to one of the country's most anticipated annual festivals.

The Filipino food company will participate in the celebration organized by the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., with its brands set to be part of the festival experience for residents and visitors.

MassKara Festival is an annual celebration in Bacolod, widely known for its colorful masks, street dancing, music, performances and community activities. The festival has become closely associated with Bacolod's identity as the City of Smiles.

What is MassKara Festival 2026?

MassKara Festival is Bacolod City's annual festival celebrating local culture, creativity and community through public performances, entertainment, food and other activities.

The festival's name combines the English word "mass" with the Spanish-derived word "kara," meaning face, reflecting its iconic smiling masks.

Sucere Foods will join the 2026 festivities as a Co-Presenter and Food Partner, giving festival-goers opportunities to encounter its confectionery products during the celebration.

Sucere brings its confectionery brands to the festival

Sucere Foods' participation will feature products from its portfolio of Filipino consumer brands, including Mello, Mayfair, Marble and Bambino.

The company's product range includes chocolates, cookies, marshmallows, gummies and other confectionery items.

According to Sucere Foods, its participation is intended to bring its products closer to consumers during a major community celebration.

“We are very happy and honored to be part of the MassKara Festival 2026 as a Co-Presenter and Food Partner. MassKara represents the Filipino spirit of celebrating life, community, and togetherness, values that are very close to Sucere,” said Andrea Valentin Alzaga, AVP for Marketing of Sucere Foods Corporation.

“Through our brands, we hope to add a little more sweetness to the festival experience and create moments that people can enjoy and remember with their families and friends.”

A partnership centered on food and community

Food has long been an important part of Philippine festivals, where meals and treats often become part of gatherings among families and friends.

For food companies, festival partnerships also provide an opportunity to bring consumer brands into settings where people are already gathering and celebrating.

Sucere Foods said its MassKara participation reflects its interest in supporting community events while allowing festival-goers to experience its products.

The company describes itself as a proudly Filipino food company and currently has a portfolio that includes confectionery products across several categories.

MassKara Festival brings Bacolod to life

MassKara is one of Bacolod's signature cultural celebrations and contributes to the city's identity as a destination for festivals and tourism.

The event is particularly recognizable for its smiling masks and colorful street performances, but its activities extend beyond the iconic parades and dancing. Festival programming typically brings together entertainment, food, community gatherings and other activities across the city.

For visitors planning to attend MassKara Festival 2026, the partnership with Sucere Foods adds another food-focused component to the festivities.

Sucere Foods said it looks forward to celebrating alongside Bacolod residents and visitors coming from different parts of the country.

Who organizes MassKara Festival?

The Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. is identified by Sucere Foods as the official organizer of MassKara Festival 2026.

The foundation works with partners and stakeholders to mount the city's annual celebration, which brings together residents, businesses, communities and visitors.

For this year's festival, Sucere Foods joins the network of organizations supporting the event as a co-presenter and food partner.

Sucere Foods adds a food brand presence to MassKara 2026

The partnership puts Sucere Foods' consumer brands in the middle of one of Bacolod's largest annual celebrations.

While MassKara remains primarily a cultural and community event, partnerships with consumer brands help support the activities and experiences that make large-scale festivals possible.

For festival-goers, Sucere's participation means another opportunity to discover or enjoy familiar Filipino confectionery products while taking part in the city's colorful celebration.

MassKara Festival 2026 will once again bring together Bacolodnons and visitors for a celebration built around music, dance, food, culture and community.

With Sucere Foods joining as co-presenter and food partner, the company will be adding its own sweet touch to the festivities in the City of Smiles.

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