SPORTS, without a doubt, will always be a part of Filipinos’ life.
No matter what part of the country you live in there will always be athletic competition. This year, Philippine sports created headlines as the country achieved significant milestones in a variety of fields.
From thrilling victories on the international stage to inspiring stories of local athletes overcoming obstacles, the year has been packed with sporting experiences that have won the hearts of Filipinos all around the country.
In the midst of this hectic environment, RepublicAsia (RA) has constantly been in the forefront of covering major events, providing extensive, analytical, and timely stories that have shaped public discourse of sports.
Now, let’s look back on the successful 2024 for Philippine sports, focusing on the events that built narratives, enlightened the public, and contributed to the national sports discourse alongside RA.
Philippines on Top
Right before the crème of the crop, the 2024 Paris Olympics, began, RepublicAsia launched a campaign that highlighted each and every delegate who made their way to the highly anticipated sporting event.
This year, the Philippines topped the list of the best performing countries in Southeast Asia for the second year in a row, thanks to an outstanding performance in the Summer Games headed by artistic gymnast Carlos Yulo.
Yulo, the Golden Boy, became the first Filipino athlete to win multiple gold medals in the same Olympics after dominating the floor exercise and vault in men’s artistic gymnastics, his favorite apparatus in the tournament.
Photo Courtesy: Presidential Communications Office | Facebook
Meanwhile, Nesthy Petecio became the fourth Filipino athlete to win multiple Olympic medals, adding bronze to her silver in Tokyo. Aira Villegas made an impressive debut in Paris, winning a well-deserved bronze medal.
The Philippine Centennial Team has been the most successful group of athletes at the Summer Games thus far, surpassing their performance at the Tokyo Olympics and ranking seventh in all of Asia this year.
These well-deserved victories not only earned them a place in Philippine athletic history, but they also won the hearts of all Filipinos, who are now more supportive of non-traditional sports.
Ending Droughts
As a die-hard sports enthusiast, you must attend all Gilas Pilipinas games. Especially this year, as the national team has broken many curses and ended many droughts in every competition they have participated in.
This year, when Tim Cone began fully calling the shots for Gilas Pilipinas and established a system that would last for years, the men’s basketball team broke a 61-year gold drought in the Asian Games against Jordan.
Following that, Gilas performed admirably in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in July, playing close against countries that few expected them to reach. One of these is Latvia, which was rated sixth at the time.
Photo Courtesy: FIBA
The Philippine squad put themselves in a solid position to open the OQT with a resounding 89-80 win over Latvia. Not only that, but it was their first win against a European team in 64 years.
Gilas also had a valiant stand against two powerful teams in Georgia, where they survived a strategic setback to advance to the semi-finals against Brazil, losing only 71-60 to an NBA player-led side.
With momentum and confidence on their side, Gilas Pilipinas remained second in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers following two successful windows, particularly in the second window, where they pulled off another upset.
For the first time in history, they defeated No.22 in the world, New Zealand, 93-89, in front of an excited crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. This earned them a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup in 2025.
A Year of Reclaiming
With a pledge to bring Gen Z news, RepublicAsia was once again a University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) accredited media outlet for Season 87, covering every game this season.
However, this year’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament has been a different tale, with most teams reclaiming titles after suffering catastrophic defeats last season.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
The UP Fighting Maroons reclaimed the championship from the DLSU Green Archers with a 66-62 Game 3 victory. JD Cagulangan was awarded Finals MVP, while Kevin Quimabao won back-to-back Season MVP awards.
The NU Lady Bulldogs, on the other hand, avenged their 7-peat-ending loss to the UST Growling Tigresses by winning Game 3 78-73. Cielo Pagdulangan, a rookie star, was awarded the finals MVP.
NU Pep Squad, on the other hand, was able to reclaim the UAAP Cheerdance Competition crown after delivering a dominant performance in the highly anticipated competition. They are currently tied with UST and UP as the winningest team.
A Golden Year for Sports
As we reflect on the highlights of sports this year, he keeps our heads held high with pride, as these athletes provided us with a preview of what the future holds. A sports squad that would only grow in the years to come.
RepublicAsia’s coverage of these sporting events highlighted the country’s accomplishments while also critically examining the obstacles and opportunities that Filipino athletes face.
Through its in-depth analysis, feature pieces, and real-time updates, RA caught the heart of Philippine sports in a way that resonated with fans while also contributing to the country’s overall sports growth story.
As we approach 2025, RepublicAsia’s role in Philippine sports journalism will become increasingly important, not only to die-hard sports fans, but also to future generations.
The success of 2024 will set a precedent for how sports media can build national identity, motivate future generations of athletes, and drive good change in the sports ecosystem.
The year 2024 will surely be recognized as a watershed point in Philippine sports history, with RepublicAsia Media playing a key role in chronicling that tale.
