How will Team Philippines fare in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games?
With over 1,100 athletes competing in Thailand, the Philippines looks to set up another productive medal haul in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games starting this December 9.
From national teams coming off banner years, to veterans looking to end the year on a high note, storylines will be plenty as the country’s top athletes gun for a medal in the regional meet.
Here are 10 athletes and national teams that you might want to keep an eye on in this year’s SEA Games.
Alex Eala (Tennis)
Twenty-twenty-five has been nothing short of magical for Alex Eala, who won her WTA 125 title last September in the Guadalajara Open. Also part of her sensational run was a semi-finals appearance in the Miami Open last March, and win at the US Open in August.
After standing tall in the big leagues, can Alex cap off her year with a SEA Games gold draped around her neck?
Eric Cray (Athletics – hurdles)
Reportedly making his final SEA Games appearance, star hurdler Eric Cray hopes to go out with a bang in Thailand. The 37-year-old is a six-time gold medalist in the 400m relay, having ruled the event since the 2013 SEA Games in Cambodia.
A seventh-straight gold medal would serve as the perfect ending for Cray, who has long reigned as one of the top Philippine athletics’ stars.
Gilas Pilipinas Men (Basketball)
It was a less-than-ideal buildup for Gilas Pilipinas in the SEA Games, who dealt with several roster revisions thanks to constant rule changes on eligibility by the organizers.
Gilas’ SEA Games crew was eventually finalized, with Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks, Jamie Malonzo, and Matthew Wright leading the charge, along with PBA mainstays in Robert Bolick, Abu Tratter, Von Pessumal, and rookie Dalph Panopio.
NCAA MVP Allen Liwag was a last-minute addition alongside former Blackwater big man Justin Chua. Rounding up the lineup will be the recently-graduated Cedrick Manzano from Adamson, and reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre.
Along with head coach Norman Black, can this group jell on time to secure the Philippines’ 20th gold medal in men’s basketball?
EJ Obiena (Athletics – pole vault)
Now in his sixth SEA Games appearance, EJ Obiena looks to finish a tough year on a high note, being on pace to win a fourth-straight gold in pole vaulting. Though Obiena has been hampered by a back injury throughout 2025, he did rule the inaugural Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge last September, which should be huge for his confidence heading to Thailand.
Alas Pilipinas Men (Volleyball)
Fielding a relatively unchanged core from the FIVB Men’s World Championship, all eyes will be on Alas Pilipinas Men as they enter this year’s SEA Games in Thailand with added confidence and lessons learned.
Featuring a mix of young stars and veterans, Alas Men will try to secure the Philippines’ first podium finish since their historic silver in 2019 on home soil. Should things fall into place, that historic silver may even receive a follow-up, or even more from the Angiolino Frigoni-coached squad.
Sam Catantan (Fencing)
The last time Sam Catantan was on the piste, she mounted an inspiring run at the Paris Olympics, upsetting Mariana Pistola in the Round of 64, before nearly pulling off a stunner for the ages against then World No.2 Arriana Errigo in the Round of 32. Even more impressive, the Filipina ace was actually dealing with a left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at the time.
Catantan has since gotten surgery on the injured knee, and will look to make up for lost time in Thailand as she competes with her sisters: UAAP champion Jannah Allysah, and rising star Sophia Shekainah.
Eumir Marcial (Boxing)
One of two professional boxers in Team Philippines, Eumir Marcial is returning to the SEA Games with a vengeance. The Olympic bronze medalist missed the last edition due to an injury, and will look to reclaim his top spot in the men’s 80kg division.
Marcial was on track for a fifth-straight SEA Games gold before being bitten by the injury bug, which he seeks to claim this year as part of the Philippines’ 13-strong boxing contingent.
SIBOL: MLBB (Esports)
The Philippines has long been successful in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports, and it’s no different in the SEA Games, which the country has ruled since esports was introduced to the regional meet in 2019.
SIBOL’s MLBB team is primarily composed of stars from Team Liquid PH, who will look to win the Philippines’ fourth-straight esports gold after ruling Season 16 of MPL-Philippines last October.
Alas Pilipinas Women (Volleyball)
Since the Alas Pilipinas program’s establishment last year, ending a two-decade SEA Games podium drought has been part of the discussion for the women’s team. The country last tasted the podium in 2005, back when a team featuring Tina Salak and Ging Balse copped the bronze on home soil.
With the Alas program showing promise, especially for this year’s national team window, the hope is for captain-setter Jia de Guzman and company to snag a medal that’s long eluded the women’s team.
Kira Ellis (Triathlon)
We’ll cap off our list of established stars with a rising talent in Kira Ellis, who is part of the Philippines’ triathlon crew. Along with Kim Mangrobang’s shot at redemption, Kira will look to cop her first individual medal this year in Thailand.
Kira enters the SEA Games four months removed from a gold medal run in the European Triathlon Junior Cup held in Riga, Latvia, opening talks of a possible podium finish in Thailand to end the year.
Banner images from AFP, FIBA, and World Athletics on Instagram.