2025 in Philippine sports: Triumph, breakthroughs, and historic moments

With 2025 drawing to a close, Philippine sports can look back on a year of landmark triumphs, breakthrough performances, and defining moments.

From Alex Eala’s breakout year to consistent displays from stars like EJ Obiena and Carlos Yulo, alongside historic collegiate achievements and a gallant SEA Games campaign, 2025 was another memorable year for Philippine sports.

Here’s a rundown of the biggest stories that shaped Philippine sports in the year that was.

BREAKTHROUGHS

Alex Eala definitely was the brightest star to shine in 2025 after cracking into the WTA Top 50 players while also making historic runs in several international stages such as the Miami Open, Eastbourne Open, before winning her first-ever WTA title at the Guadalajara Open in September.

She capped it all off with her first-ever SEA Games gold medal by hurdling Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand just weeks ago.

READ MORE | Alex Eala’s historic rise in 2025

Aside from Eala, other Pinay athletes also dazzled in the biennial meet as the national women's football team and the women's beach volleyball team ruled their respective events to bring the country's maiden SEA Games gold medal in the sport.

The men's curling team and the women's lacrosse squad also broke through with the former ruling the Asian Winter Games and the latter reigning supreme at the  2025 Asia-Pacific Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

STANDOUTS

Gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena continued to prove they rank among the world’s elite in their respective sports.

Yulo, the two-time Olympic gold medalist, topped the men's vault finals of the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships but opted to skip the SEA Games due to new eligibility rules set by the hosts.

Yulo's younger brother, Eldrew, also made waves by capturing two bronze medals at the 2025 Artistic Gymnastic Junior World Championship held here.

EJ Obiena, ranked the world no. 11 pole vault athlete, started the year with a gold medal at the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlelor before ending the year with a record-breaking jump in the SEA Games to take his fourth gold medal in a row.

Obiena also reigned at home after dominating the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge in Makati City in September.

In weightlifting, Olympian Elreen Ando and Rosegie Ramos shone in the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships with three silver medals each.

Cue artist Carlo Biado also made history after he won his second World Pool Championship title, becoming the first-ever Filipino to do so.

COLLEGIATE KINGS AND QUEENS

Off the biggest stage, stars also shone brightly in the collegiate ranks.

De La Salle University and San Beda University reclaimed the crown with the Green Archers outlasting University of the Philippines to rule the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament. The Red Lions, on the other hand, swept rival Colegio de San Juan de Letran to top NCAA Season 101.

In the women's basketball, University of Santo Tomas also returned to the throne after dethroning National University in UAAP women's basketball.

NU and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde extended their dynasties in UAAP and NCAA women's volleyball as the Lady Bulldogs swept La Salle for back-to-back titles and the Lady Blazers outclassed Letran to complete a four-peat feat.

Arellano University also made history by winning its breakthrough title in NCAA men's volleyball after sweeping Letran in Season 100 finals while their UAAP counterpart National University captured its fifth straight title.

HISTORIC HOSTING

The Philippines played host to several prestigious sports events in 2025, showcasing the country’s ability to stage world-class competitions.

For the first time in history, the country both competed and hosted the FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship last September.  

There the Alas Pilipinas Men also made history by stunning higher-ranked Egypt in the group stages to capture their first-ever victory at the Worlds.

The Philippines also brought the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup at the PhilSports Arena and the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships at the Marriott Grand Ballroom both last November.

NEW LEADERSHIP

The year 2025 brought notable shifts in the leadership of Philippine sports bodies.

Patrick "Pato" Gregorio was named the new Philippine Sports Commission chairman, replacing Richard "Dickie" Bachmann at the helm of the government office.

Ricky Vargas was also elected as the new Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president to replace longtime basketball chief Al Panlilio.

Volleyball also saw key changes in its leadership with Tonyboy Liao getting elected as the new Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president, taking the role held by Ramon 'Tats' Suzara since January 2023.

DEATHS IN PHILIPPINE SPORTS

In 2025, Philippines sports mourned the deaths of several sports personalities. 

In January, runner and former SEA Games gold medalist Marvin Guarte was stabbed to death while multi-titled volleyball head coach Sammy Acaylar passed away later that month. 

Rising stars in Gilas Pilipinas Youth player Ashlyn Abong and Alas Men member Ike Barilea passed away at 18 and 21, respectively. 

Former volleyball ace Cindy Imbo, who played for Perpetual in the NCAA as well as F2 Logistics and Choco Mucho, died in late December. 

GOLDEN YEAR OF PBA

The PBA reached a milestone no other Asian professional league has achieved before: its golden anniversary.

Founded in 1975, the PBA ushered in its golden anniversary in 2025 by unveiling 10 new names to its prestigious list of ‘Greatest Players.’

Added to the list are June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Abe King, Nelson Asaytono, Jeffrey Cariaso, Bong Hawkins, Arnie Tuadles, Danny Seigle, Manuel Victorino, and Yoyoy Villamin.

2025 also highlighted the dominance of TNT, with the Tropang 5G coming close to a rare Grand Slam after ruling the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup before bowing to San Miguel in the Philippine Cup. TNT had earlier set the tone by capturing the Season 49 Governors’ Cup crown in late 2024.

PINOY ATHLETES STAR IN SEA GAMES

Whether at home or on the road, Filipino athletes have always risen to proudly carry the flag.

During the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, the country had a haul of 50 gold medals, 73 silvers, and 154 bronzes to wind up sixth behind host Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. 

Aside from the gold medals mentioned above, several athletes also brought home pride with swimmer Kayla Sanchez capturing a stunning collection of three golds and five silver medals. 

Both the Gilas Pilipinas Men and Gilas Pilipinas Women teams stunned host Thailand to complete a two-gold hail in the men's and women's 5-on-5 basketball tournaments. 

Boxer Eumir Marcial also emerged as the lone boxer to win a gold after dominating the men's 80kg class. 

The Philippine Blu Boys team returned to the top of Southeast Asian Games softball after pulling off a 3-0 win against Singapore in the finale. 

A number of athletics aces also seized gold medals with John Cabang Tolentino (110m hurdles), Hokett Delos Santos (decathlon), Hussein Loraña (men's 800m), and Naomi Marjorie Cesar (800m). 

The Philippines also starred in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang after Sibol bagged its fourth gold in a row while the triathlon team completed a three-gold haul. 

READ MORE | RECAP: Team Philippines at the 2025 SEA Games

—JMB, GMA Integrated News