MANILA — February 22, 2026. A lighthearted moment on live television quickly went viral after “Balitang A2Z” news anchor Barbie Muhlach couldn’t contain her laughter while reporting about NBA player Bol Bol’s arrival in the Philippines. 

The basketball star is set to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) under TNT Tropang 5G, but it was his name that triggered giggles from the anchor during the February 20 newscast.

Viewers noticed that Muhlach initially tried to suppress her laughter as she began the sports segment, but moments later, she broke into giggles while continuing the report. Despite the slip, she managed to finish the segment professionally. 

Her co-anchor Raff Herida shared the clip online, teasing her with the line, “Kaya pa Ms. Barbie Muhlach?” which further fueled the viral spread of the video.

Muhlach herself later commented on the clip, admitting that she was caught off guard when she saw her colleagues in the studio laughing as well. “Kasalanan mo to Kaka Raff Herida,” she joked, pointing to her co-anchor as the reason she lost composure. 

She then added, “Bol Bol sana hindi na-offend,” acknowledging that the laughter was not directed at the player personally but at the humorous coincidence of his name.

The viral moment gained even more traction among Filipino netizens because “Bol Bol” sounds similar to “bulbol,” a Filipino word for pubic hair. Many online users joked about the coincidence, while others defended the anchor, saying the laughter was a natural reaction to the linguistic quirk rather than an insult to the athlete.

As the clip continues to circulate, fans expressed hopes that Bol Bol himself would take the incident lightly. The episode has added a touch of levity to sports coverage, showing how even seasoned broadcasters can have spontaneous, human reactions on-air, especially when cultural and linguistic quirks come into play.

Image from Facebook/TNT Tropang 5G