Abra - Paul Alvarez (Basketball)
A native of Bangued and was born on June 15, 1968, Paul Alvarez is a prominent figure in Philippine basketball. He started basketball at the young age of 17 in high school where he was made a star player of his school's UM Hawklets. His playing style was discovered by San Sebastian College coach Francis Rodriguez who signed him to the college's varsity team in 1985. As a rookie player, he helped win the college's second NCAA Championship trophy. In 1987, he is one of the chosen college players to represent the Philippines in the ABC Youth Championships in Manila. He then became a member of the national team to the William Jones Cup in Taipei, Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, and ABC Youth Championship in Bangkok.
He turned pro in 1989 and was drafted third overall by the Alaska Milk team. In his sophomore year, Alvarez shattered the record for the most points by an individual in a single game currently held at that time by Allan Caidic. He has thrown in 71 points in Alaska's 169-138 victory over Formula Shell on April 26, 1990. That same year, he made it to the Mythical Five selection for the first time but an injury on his Achilles heel felled him in Game 3 of the 1990 PBA Third Conference Finals against Purefoods.
He played for the Alaska Milk team for quite a number of years before being traded to other teams including Sta. Lucia Realty, Shell, San Miguel, and Ginebra.
Honorable Mentions: Jerome Barbosa (Basketball), Andy de Guzman (Basketball), Bong Valera (Basketball)
Agusan del Norte - Johnny Arcilla (Tennis)
Johnny Arcilla is a tennis wonderboy from Butuan who was a nine-time champion of the Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championship. He also represented the country in several international tennis competitions. He won his first PCAOTC title at the age of 21 while his last title he won in 2019 at the age of 39. He achieved his highest world ranking (1288) last August 2, 2010. His current world ranking is 1788.
Honorable Mentions: Ardy Larong (Basketball), Zaldy Realubit (Basketball)
Agusan del Sur -
Christian Tio who hails from Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan is a teenager who rose to prominence after winning the Asian qualifying twin tip racing event in Pranburi, Thailand, and hence the rights to represent the country in Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He won the silver medal at the Summer Youth Games and the distinction of giving the Philippines its first medal in the Summer Youth Olympics.
Honorable Mentions: Kyla Soguilon (Swimming), Harold Arboleda (Basketball)
Honorable Mentions: Ardy Larong (Basketball), Zaldy Realubit (Basketball)
Agusan del Sur -
Aklan - Christian Tio (kiteboarding)
Christian Tio who hails from Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan is a teenager who rose to prominence after winning the Asian qualifying twin tip racing event in Pranburi, Thailand, and hence the rights to represent the country in Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He won the silver medal at the Summer Youth Games and the distinction of giving the Philippines its first medal in the Summer Youth Olympics.
Honorable Mentions: Kyla Soguilon (Swimming), Harold Arboleda (Basketball)
Albay - Miguel White (Athletics)
This great athlete who is a native of Legazpi, Albay made stellar performances in the tracks. He won the bronze medal in 400-meter hurdles and silver medals in both 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 meter runs in the 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games in Tokyo and a gold medal in 400-meter hurdles in the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games in Manila. He finally won the bronze medal for his pet event - the 400-meter hurdles at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games just behind the eventual winner Glenn Hardin of the USA and John Loaring of Canada, respectively. His colorful life in the field was abruptly cut short by the advent of the war and eventually, he was killed in action during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World War II thereby ending his short but meaningful career. So far, he is one of only two Filipino Olympic medalists in athletics, the other one is Simeon Toribio in the high jump.
Honorable Mentions: William "Bogs" Adornado (Basketball), Janelle Mae Frayna (Chess), Almond Vosotros (Basketball), Renato "ATO" Morano (Basketball), Nathan B. Casimiro (Bodybuilding), Gilbert Bulawan (Basketball), Jay-r Reyes (Basketball), Mark Borboran (Basketball)
Antique - Marian Capadocia (Tennis)
A talented Antiqueña hard-court player, Marian Capadocia started to play tennis at eight years of age. She became the number one junior tennis player of the Philippines in 2011 at age 16. She also represented the Philippines and won some tournaments in some international tennis circuits.
Honorable Mentions: Remegio Vista (Athletics), Richard Yee (Basketball)
Apayao - Ruthlaine Tacula (Basketball)
She is the leading player of the National University basketball team in the UAAP games.
Aurora -
Basilan - Jimar Aing (Athletics)
Basilan's best athlete Jimar Aing shines bright in track and field when he dominated the men's 400-meter run in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Manila in 2005. Prior to the SEAG stint, he competed in Asian Athletics Championship in Manila in 2003 in the 100, 200 and 400-meter run and after the 2005 SEA Games, he competed in the 2007 Asian Athletics Championship in Amman, Jordan in 4x400 meter relay.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Papa (Swimming), Anwar Abdulmajid (Swimming), Marlon Avenido (Taekwondo), Victor Valbuena (Table Tennis)
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Papa (Swimming), Anwar Abdulmajid (Swimming), Marlon Avenido (Taekwondo), Victor Valbuena (Table Tennis)
Bataan - Gary David (Basketball)
Another famed cager, Gary David who hails from Bataan, was a five-time All-Star player who currently holds the longest streak of consecutive games scoring 20 points or higher. Hailed as "El Granada", he is widely hailed as one of PBA's best scorers of all time by the Philippine Basketball Association Hall of Fame.
Honorable Mentions: Kerby Raymundo (Basketball)
Honorable Mentions: Kerby Raymundo (Basketball)
Batanes - Freddie Hubalde (Basketball)
Freddie Hubalde is one of the pioneering players of the Philippine Basketball Association, Asia's oldest men's professional basketball league. He played for Crispa Redmanizers who brought the team to grand slam titles in 1976 and 1983 while earning himself an MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in 1977. In 2000, he was named as one of PBA's 25 Greatest Players.
Honorable Mentions: Martina Aguada (Athletics), Joel Calma Dualan (Basketball), Jorge Peralta (Basketball)
Batangas - LA Tenorio (Basketball)
He is a basketball player and is an assistant coach of Letran Knights in NCAA.
Honorable Mention: Alyssa Valdez (Volleyball)
Benguet - Robert Jaworski (Basketball)
A native of Baguio City, Robert Jaworski is one of the greatest basketball players and coaches of the Philippines. He once holds the record for the "oldest professional basketball player".
Honorable Mention: Eduard Folayang (Mixed Martial Arts), Mark Eddiva (Mixed Martial Arts)
The pride of Naval, Biliran, Ceferino Garcia is one of the greatest Filipino pugilists of all time. He holds the record for the most number of wins by a Filipino prizefighter at 118, 74 of which are knockouts. He suffered 30 losses while only getting 14 draws in his entire career. He is credited as the first to widely use the technique, "bolo punch" which was later popularized by the Cuban fighter, Kid Gavilan. He is the only Filipino to become a world champion in the middleweight division.
Honorable Mention: Eduard Folayang (Mixed Martial Arts), Mark Eddiva (Mixed Martial Arts)
Biliran - Ceferino Garcia (Boxing)
The pride of Naval, Biliran, Ceferino Garcia is one of the greatest Filipino pugilists of all time. He holds the record for the most number of wins by a Filipino prizefighter at 118, 74 of which are knockouts. He suffered 30 losses while only getting 14 draws in his entire career. He is credited as the first to widely use the technique, "bolo punch" which was later popularized by the Cuban fighter, Kid Gavilan. He is the only Filipino to become a world champion in the middleweight division.
Bohol - Simeon Toribio (Athletics)*
He is one of only two Filipino Olympic medalists in athletics (the other one being Miguel White). He won the bronze medal in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. In the previous 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, he cleared the bar of the same height with the eventual silver and bronze medalists, Benjamin Hedges and Claude Menard but lost the jump-off and eventually placed fourth. He also won the gold medal in the high jump in the Far Eastern Championship Games of 1927, 1930, 1934 in Shanghai, Tokyo, and Manila, respectively. He was given the title "Asia's Greatest Athlete" in 1930. He was the Philippines' flag bearer at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games Opening Ceremony where he finished 12th in the games. Born in Zamboanga City and settled in Carmen, Bohol, he was elected to the House of Representatives representing the second district of Bohol in 1941 and served in that post until 1953.
Honorable Mention: Nonito Donaire (Boxing)
Boholano Nonito Donaire won multiple world champions in four weight classes making him one of the few Asian boxers to win world titles in at least four (4) different weight classes. He held the IBF flyweight title from 2007 - 2009, the unified WBC and WBO bantamweight titles in 2011, IBF super bantamweight title in 2012, WBO super bantamweight title twice between 2012 and 2016, WBA super featherweight title in 2014, and the WBA super bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019.
Bukidnon - Carlo Paalam (Boxing)
Carlo Paalam is a young rising star of boxing who rose to prominence in the Southeast Asian Games winning the gold medal in the light flyweight division in 2019. He is now seeking a berth for the 32nd Summer Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
Honorable Mention: Frankie Minoza (Golf) *
Bulacan - Lydia de Vega (Athletics)
Known as Asia's sprint queen and one of the greatest Filipino track athletes, Meycauayan native Lydia de Vega first showed her prominence in Palarong Pambansa during her younger years before she was noticed and enlisted in the Gintong Alay Program of President Marcos in 1979. She then runs away with her first two gold medals in the 200 and 400 meter run during the 11th Southeast Asian Games in 1981 in Manila shattering the records in the process. She then went on to win several other gold and silver medals in both 100 and 200 meters in Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and Asian Athletics Championship and winning her lone long jump gold medal in the 1987 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta. She also represented the Philippines in both the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games. One of her shining moments came in the 14th Southeast Asian Games when she won the women's 100 meters run shattering the previous record in which she still holds this record up to this day.
Honorable Mentions: Mark Paragua (Chess), Jose Padilla Jr. (Boxing)
Cagayan - Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito (Athletics)
Track queen Lerma Bulauitan-Gabiton who hails from Peñablanca, Cagayan is a multiple long jump medalist. She won her first medal at the 21st Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2001 placing second with a jump of 6.43 meters. She later went on to win medals mostly silver in Asian Championships and Afro-Asian Games. She won her only gold medal in the long jump during the 22nd Southeast Asian Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2003 leaping 6.21 meters. Her personal best however was achieved in June 2004 in Colombo, Sri Lanka with a mark of 6.56 meters. She also competed in the 100-meter event in the Olympic Games and World Championships.
Honorable Mentions: Rachel Cabral (Archery), Rommel Adducul (Basketball), Charo Soriano (Volleyball), Philip Butel (Basketball)
Camarines Norte - Genaro Saavedra (Athletics)
There are already some exceptionally talented Filipino athletes who excelled brilliantly when regional multi-sporting events were still in their infancy and Genaro Saavedra was one of them. Genaro Saavedra was a four-time Far Eastern Championship Games gold medalist and is the only person to have won Far Eastern Championship Games gold medals in four separate disciplines. He accomplished this by winning in the second Far Eastern Championship Games biennial meet in Shanghai, China winning in 100 yards, high jump, pole vault, and decathlon and capping another bronze medal to his collection in the long jump in the same games.
Camarines Sur - Johnny Abarrientos (Basketball)
Small but terrible "The Flying A", Johnny Abarrientos was named Most Valuable Player a couple of time playing under Alaska Milkmen. He was also a member of the national team which represented the Philippines in Asian Games earning a bronze medal.
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Honorable Mentions: Claro Pellosis (Athletics)
Camiguin - Abet Guidaben (Basketball)
Mambajao, Camiguin's son Guidaben was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizer team that won the grand slam title in 1976 and 1983. He was named the Most Valuable Player twice in 1983 and 1987.
Honorable Mentions: Fernando Baja (Boxing), Dominic Babia (Basketball), Kid Mosqueto (Boxing)
Honorable Mentions: Fernando Baja (Boxing), Dominic Babia (Basketball), Kid Mosqueto (Boxing)
Capiz - Jose Maxian (Boxing)
He is a professional boxer who won WBC and WBF titles in the mini flyweight division.
Honorable Mentions: Reymark 'Mac' Bello (Basketball), Glenn Peter Yap (Basketball), Nestor Yap (Basketball), Rafael "Rafa" Dinglasan (Basketball), Arturo Orosco (Athletics), Fritz Dorado (Athletics), Fernando and Romeo Aleligay (Athletics), Dandi and Fidel Gallenero (Athletics), Nestor Genodia (Marathon), Dines Dumaan (Pencak Silat), Marly Llorito (Shooting), Nerlyn Huinda (Pencak Silat), Marigen Campos (Athletics), Hanny Jean Delfin and Jenelyn Progio (Athletics), Frederick Tumanon (Chess), Francis Jocson (Chess), Catalino Pestaño, Jr., (Chess)
Honorable Mentions: Reymark 'Mac' Bello (Basketball), Glenn Peter Yap (Basketball), Nestor Yap (Basketball), Rafael "Rafa" Dinglasan (Basketball), Arturo Orosco (Athletics), Fritz Dorado (Athletics), Fernando and Romeo Aleligay (Athletics), Dandi and Fidel Gallenero (Athletics), Nestor Genodia (Marathon), Dines Dumaan (Pencak Silat), Marly Llorito (Shooting), Nerlyn Huinda (Pencak Silat), Marigen Campos (Athletics), Hanny Jean Delfin and Jenelyn Progio (Athletics), Frederick Tumanon (Chess), Francis Jocson (Chess), Catalino Pestaño, Jr., (Chess)
Catanduanes - Bernabe Concepcion (Boxing)
Virac, Catanduanes native, Bernabe Concepcion captured his first title - the vacant WBO Oriental super bantamweight belt on July 31, 2015 at Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines against Tanzanian boxer Juma Fundi. He got his first world title - the WBO featherweight title on August 15, 2009 against Colombian Yogli Herrera where he pounced the latter in a 6-round decision.
Honorable Mentions: Jose Sumalde (Cycling), Victor Idaba (Cycling), David Magtangob (Boxing), Rudy Tolentino (Volleyball), Serafin Villarete (Swimming)
Honorable Mentions: Jose Sumalde (Cycling), Victor Idaba (Cycling), David Magtangob (Boxing), Rudy Tolentino (Volleyball), Serafin Villarete (Swimming)
Cavite - Eric Buhain (Swimming)
Bacoor is proud to have their son Eric Buhain gave pride to the Philippines in the field of swimming. He is a multi-awarded champion swimmer. He won several gold medals as well as two silver medals and five bronze medals in different swimming categories in the Southeast Asian Games. He was also appointed as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission in 2001 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2005, six months before the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, he was appointed by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as chairman of the Games and Amusement Board, a public agency that handles professional sports and gambling events.
Honorable Mentions: Ranidel Ocampo (Basketball), Terrence Romeo (Basketball)
Cebu - Gabriel "Flash" Elorde (Boxing)
Long before Manny Pacquiao became a legend in boxing, the ever-gifted Bogo, Cebu son Gabriel Elorde rose to prominence to become one of the greatest Filipino boxers of all time. A southpaw, Elorde was nicknamed "The Flash" because of his agility, speed, and boxing skills. He won 89 matches out of his 118 career matches 33 of which were knockouts. He incurred 27 losses and 2 draws. He won the lineal super featherweight title in 1960. In 1963, he won the inaugural WBC and WBA super featherweight title. He holds the record for the longest title reign in that division spanning seven years. At seven years and three months, Elorde holds the record for the longest-reigning junior lightweight champion. In 1983, he was the first Asian to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was also enshrined in the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He was also voted as 78th best fighter in the list of 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years by Ring Magazine in 2002. His life story was immortalized in the screen quite a number of times including The Flash Elorde Story (1961). Elorde's style from eskrima has been adopted by many boxers, including his friend Muhammad Ali, which in turn influenced the out boxer style of boxing.
Honorable Mentions: Ben Arda (Golf), Josephine de la Viña (Athletics)
Compostela Valley -
Cotabato - Mona Sulaiman (Athletics)
A lightning-fast track star who raced the field way before Lydia de Vega, Mona Sulaiman of Cotabato became Asia's sprint champion for several years and a real queen of the track and field because she excels in various track and field events. Before getting Asia's limelight, she was the first national champion in the pentathlon in 1963. She was also a five-time national champion in the shot put and six-time national champion in 100 and 200-meter event and capping with another national title in the discus throw. During the Fourth Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1962 she romped away from the gold medal in 100 and 200-meter dash becoming Asia's first double gold winner and later became the first Filipino woman to win three gold medals in the same event by winning the 4x100 meter relay event. If that is not enough, she won another bronze medal in shot put in the same 1962 Asian Games.
The fastest woman in Asia in the 60s, sprint queen Mona Sulaiman ruled the athletics on several occasions. Her potential in track was discovered when a school official noticed her extraordinary speed while playing a softball game at her school when she was only 15. She is a product of the Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association Games (now called Palarong Pambansa). During her stint at the Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association Games of 1959 in Lingayen, Pangasinan, a Far Eastern University coach recruited her. Trained and honed by several coaches including the legendary Ruperto Evangelista, Sulaiman became Asia's phenomenal track star for several years.
Sulaiman would earn her fame during the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. There she became renowned for being the first Filipina to win three gold medals in a single event (100 m, 200 m, and 4x100 meter relay) and Asia's first double gold winner in the sprint. She added a bronze medal in shot put in the same event.
Due to her rugged masculine features and unusual speed and agility, some people questioned her gender which forces her to take a medical check-up prior to the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand for which she refused under the claim it will go against her Muslim faith.
She retired from competitive play and worked in the private sector until the 1990s when she was hired by the Philippine Sports Commission to serve as consultants for the national athletics team. Sulaiman was inducted into the PSC Hall of Fame in January 2016.
Davao del Norte - Jerwin Ancajas (Boxing)
The boy wonder from Panabo, Jerwin Ancajas is the current IBF junior bantamweight champion since 2016. He was ranked as the world's fourth-best junior bantamweight by Ring Magazine and Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and the world's fifth-best in junior bantamweight by BoxRec.
Honorable Mention: Mark Anthony Barriga (Boxing)
Honorable Mention: Mark Anthony Barriga (Boxing)
Davao del Sur - Nesthy Petecio (Boxing)
One of the Philippines' great female boxers, Nesthy Petecio who hails from the town of Sta. Cruz won several medals and tournaments here and abroad. She won gold medals in the featherweight class in the Southeast Asian Games and World Championship aside from silver medals she got from these tournaments. She garners a silver and a bronze in the bantamweight division in Asian Championships. She will attempt to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Honorable Mention: Sheila Mae Perez (Diving), Daisuke Sato (Football)
Davao Occidental - Baser Amer (Basketball)
Baser Amer is a basketball varsity player playing as a point guard for the San Beda University Red Lions during which it became a two-time NCAA Junior Basketball Champion. He was named the 2009 NCAA Junior's Rookie of the Year and the following year, the 2010 NCAA Juniors' Most Valuable Player. He also became a four-time NCAA Seniors' Basketball Champion and won the 2012 NCAA Seniors' Most Valuable Player. He was part of the national team that won the gold medal in the 2015 and 2017 Southeast Asian Games.
Davao Oriental - Juanito Rubillar (Boxing)
Rubillar was the former WBC Continental Americas light flyweight champion.
Dinagat Islands -
Eastern Samar - Freddie Abuda (Basketball)
He was a former basketball player who plays most for San Miguel Beermen during which his team won the Philippine Basketball Association Championship trophy eight times. He was nicknamed The Scavenger due to most of his points were from a follow-up after rebounding a team player missed shot.
Honorable Mentions: Jewel Ponferrada (Basketball), Rodney Basilides Oduya (Basketball)
