This year was pretty good for Philippine sports, but things could have been better. Here’s a list of things we wish Santa would give us.
Twenty twenty-four was a solid year for Philippine sports. Obviously, Carlos Yulo’s gold medal haul would be the highlight, but there were others that deserve recognition—from Gilas Pilipinas getting huge wins against world-class competition to the Philippine Men’s National Football Team barging through to the semifinals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, to Bianca Bustamante putting the country on the map for motorsports. There were many other events that would make us stand proud as a nation, but just like real life, there were some lows as well, when the agony of defeat reared its ugly head, overshadowing the thrill of victory.
If I had a wish list for Philippine sports, this would be it, in no particular order:
Stop the crab mentality of many fans.
It’s as if we are so proud when our athletes do well, but when they fall, many fans online would quickly turn on the athlete and blame them in one way or another. Most of the time, sports is filled with L’s, but those losses will inevitably make the victory sweeter. Take the good with the bad.
Continued success for the Azkals.
Yes… they’ll forever be the Azkals to me. Making it to the semifinals after a 6-year absence is a huge deal. There was a time when everyone knew the names Younghusband, Chieffy, Etheridge, Del Rosario, and Borromeo. Now, you’d need to be a hardcore fan to know the players on the current roster. The men’s football movement may not be as strong as it once was, but the team needs all the support they can get.
The Malditas—okay fine, let’s call them the Filipinas—sustaining their momentum.
It’s been over a year since history was made and we were represented on the world stage of any football tournament. Hopefully, all the ladies who have been making a name for themselves in different foreign leagues can once again find that magic and continue the upward trend.
Make PBA attendance great again.
As a member of the PBA Broadcast team, I see the many empty seats during the early rounds of the tournaments. However, the games have been exciting, and the competition has been more or less even. Sure, there are the bigger teams, but some of the smaller ones have shown they have fight in them as well. NorthPort is currently leading the league this conference and has continued to look solid. Even though the TV ratings have been strong, having the energy of the fans in the stands is palpable, and it’ll make the games even more exciting.
Continued growth for volleyball.
We’ve hosted several big tournaments already, and with the 2025 World Championships taking place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in September 2025, the golden era of the sport in the country is sure to continue.
Philippine motorsports to have a stronger following.
People always ask me when a Formula 1 race will take place in the country, and I always have the same answer: it’s not going to happen anytime soon. However, we do have local races that are worth checking out, especially the Philippine Superbike Championship. TJ Alberto has won with his Ducati 4 years in a row, and each title came down to the final race day. I also wish that the door Bianca Bustamante opened will allow more drivers and riders a chance to gain international exposure in motorsports.
Comprehensive support and funding for grassroots development to nurture young athletes nationwide.
It’s difficult when part of the support comes from the state (PSC) and another comes from the private sector (POC). It makes things confusing. I wish there was a way that the lines of communication are always open for the betterment of the athletes. Let’s not wait for them to grow tired of finding funding to the point that they decide to move to another country and represent them instead. I wish there was a way our athletes could get the proper exposure and opportunity to continue to excel with the help of their NSA, rather than just doing it on their own.
Proper coaching for all athletes—not just traditional coaching, but also training for the athlete’s mind.
It may not be a total surprise that Carlos Yulo brought home two Olympic gold medals after he got himself a coach who helps him visualize his routines before he even steps on the mat. There need to be more Coach Hazels for all of our national athletes.
Banner images from FIBA.