What’s happening in the world of Philippine sports in 2025? We’ve prepared this list of major events for easy reference.
Now that 2025 is finally upon us, it’s time for Filipinos sports fans to mark their calendars for the biggest sporting events coming over the next 12 months. The GAME has made things easier by listing them down fore east reference.
Some of them are major international tournaments to be hosted by the Philippines, while others are commemorative events marking major milestones. Still others will be held in other countries but involve star Filipino athletes. Here’s our list. You’re welcome.
FIBA Asia Cup final qualifying window (Feb. 20 and 23)
Gilas Pilipinas has already qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 (more on that below), but the national team still has to go on the road to close out its qualifying games. Gilas takes on Chinese Taipei on Feb. 20 and New Zealand on Feb. 23, and it would be nice if they sweep all their six qualifying games. At minimum, it would be a good time for Tim Cone to try different player combinations and give more run time to the youngsters as they prepare for the big tournament in August.
AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Third Round (Mar. 25, Jun. 10, Oct. 19, Oct. 14, Nov. 18)
Fresh off an inspiring semifinal run in the 2024 AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT) plunges back into action five different times this year as they aim to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. The PMNFT is in Group A in the Qualifiers’ third round together with Maldives, Timor Leste and Tajikistan in a double-round, home-and away format. Expect Rizal Stadium to be rocking once again when the PMNFT hosts Tajikistan on June 10, Timor Leste on October 14, and Maldives on November 18.
The PBA’s 50th anniversary (April 9)
Asia’s first professional basketball league marks its golden anniversary this year, and plans are afoot to hold a special gala night on April 9, the date the first PBA game between Mariwasa-Noritake and Concepcion Carrier was held in 1975. The gala night might be held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, venue of that historic PBA opening 50 years ago. Expected to attend the affair are former players – locals and imports alike – in a grand reunion to end all reunions that will be capped by the unveiling of the 50 greatest PBA players of all time.
FIBA Asia Cup 2025 (Aug. 5-17)
Gilas Pilipinas will be battling against 15 other Asian national teams in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 to be hosted by Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the right to be named Asian champions. There is no Olympic or World Cup ticket at stake, although all the 16 teams that qualify will advance to the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, but bragging rights in the continent is pretty much up for grabs. Japan was the highest-ranked Asian team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, while the Philippines won the 2023 Asian Games gold medal. The country hasn’t won this tournament since 1985, making it a 40-year drought this year.
FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship (Sept. 12-28)
This is a big one. Thirty-two of the best men’s national volleyball teams will converge at the Mall of Asia Arena over 17 days to determine the world’s best men’s volleyball team. Hosts Alas Pilipinas are in Group A with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia and will be banking on the home crowd to help fuel a run to the knockout stages. The stakes are high, and the competition topnotch, but whatever happens, local volleyball fans will be treated to world-class volleyball for two-and-a-half weeks.
Thrilla in Manila 50th Anniversary (First week of October)
The PBA’s founding wasn’t the only major sporting event that was held at the Araneta Coliseum in 1975. The epic heavyweight world title fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, held on Oct. 1, 1975, will also be marking its 50th anniversary this year. The Star’s Quinito Henson has reported that there are plans to hold a major fight card on or around Oct. 1 at the Big Dome possibly featuring three world title fights involving Filipino fighters. The daughters of Ali and Frazier will also be invited to attend. This should be a treat for boxing fans.
FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup (Nov. 21-Dec. 7)
This is an enormous event because the Philippines has been selected to host the inaugural edition of Women’s Futsal World Cup, which will gather 16 national teams from all over the globe. The PFF plans to have multiple cities across the country host games, including Pasay, Cebu Iloilo and Victorias. Hopefully, though, whatever issues currently plaguing the Philippine women’s national futsal team get resolved soonest.
Bangkok Southeast Asian Games (Dec. 7-19)
Southeast Asia’s biggest sporting event, the biennial Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), is back this year with Bangkok, Thailand hosting for the fifth time. In the 2023 edition hosted by Cambodia, Team Philippines finished just fifth in the medal standings with a 58-86-11 gold-silver-bronze count. Although the exact composition of this year’s Team Philippines is still be determined, expect it to have a lot of star power if everything aligns and the bulk of our Paris Olympians plus a PBA-reinforced Gilas Pilipinas participate.
Banner Images from FIBA.