AS 2025 comes to a close, Sports Interactive Network Philippines (SPIN.ph), the country's first and only full-staff, comprehensive sports website, continues a tradition it started in 2013 by rolling out its annual SOTY (Sportsman of the Year) Awards.
To the winners, take a bow.
Sportsman of the Year: Alexandra 'Alex' Eala
Eala, 20, was the unanimous choice of the SPIN.ph staff for the highest honor of 2025 after an extraordinary year that saw her break new ground for the Filipino tennis player, from her amazing run to the semifinals of the Miami Open in March to a historic first win in a grand slam tournament to his first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara, Mexico to a drought-ending gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok. She ended the year just outside the Top 50 in the world rankings at No. 53
Team of the Year: Filipinas
The year was supposed to be a period of transition for the Philippine women's football team after a historic maiden appearance at the World Cup. A change in the coaching staff and a leadership shakeup at the Philippine Football Federation was followed by a mixed bag of results for the Filipinas, who, nonetheless, still found a way to make another vital piece of 'Herstory' before the year ended by winning the country's first-ever football gold medal at the SEA Games in Thailand.
Game Changer of the Year: YENG GUIAO
Away from the sidelines, Guiao authored the single biggest victory for Philippine sports when the Supreme Court ruled in his favor and ordered both PAGCOR and PCSO to remit the full 5 percent of their gross earnings - and not net income - to the Philippine Sports Commission. Won with the help of pro bono lawyer Jun Guzman, and ruled final and executory by the Supreme Court in December after junking a PAGCOR appeal, the case has also resulted in an estimated P30 billion windfall from the retroactive remittances from 1993 - funds that, if used wisely, can give sports development a major boost.
Executive of the Year: CYNTHIA CARRION
Philippine gymnastics was coming off the ultimate high of Carlos Yulo's two-gold performance at the Paris Olympics, but it has shown no signs of slowing down. Under Carrion's leadership, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines celebrated another World Championship gold medal by Yulo, a bronze medal by his younger brother Eldrew at the Junior World Championship which the country hosted, and three gold medals at the SEA Games.
Rising Star of the Year: TITING MANALILI
Almost on his own, Manalili made NCAA basketball fun to watch again. The flamboyant Cebuano guard not only led an underappreciated Letran Knights side all the way to the Season 101 finals, but he also made hoops fans talk about the grand 'ol league again. Manalili's future with Letran is under a cloud of doubt after the finals loss to San Beda, more so amid rumors of a move to a UAAP school. But one thing sure, this guy is bound to be one of the game's biggest stars, regardless of where he ends up.
Coach of the Year: NORMAN BLACK
A winner of 11 PBA championships including a grand slam, five UAAP titles, and two Southeast Asian Games gold medals as a coach, Black saved the best for last when he led Gilas Pilipinas to a hard-earned men's basketball gold medal while dealing with flip-flopping eligibility rules that scratched top players off his lineup and left him scrounging around to assemble a mismatched 12-man lineup. Not the best Gilas team assembled, but one with the biggest heart. Also played to its full potential, thanks to its coach.
Esports Team of the Year: TEAM LIQUID
No esports teamhad a better 2025 than Team Liquid Philippines. The Cavalry opened the year by winning the MPL Philippines Season 15 title, before becoming the MSC-Esports World Cup winner by beating Malaysia's Selangor Red Giants. That's just half of their year as they'd close out 2025 even stronger. In October, they made a successful defense of their MPL title by ruling Season 16 in another impressive run, before capping off the year with a SEA Games gold medal, with their main five representing SIBOL Men in the biennial MLBB tournament which looked like a mere formality for Team Philippines. - Christian Jacinto
Newsmaker of the Year: ALAS BEACH WOMEN
An up-and-down year for Philippine volleyball ended on a high when the Alas Women struck gold in beach volleyball at the SEA Games in Pattaya. The dramatic win pulled off by Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez and Sunny Villapando against host Thailand in the finals gave the Philippines its first gold medal since beach volleyball was introduced in the SEA Games in 2023 - and its first volleyball medal since the Thelma Barina and Co. won the indoor women's volleyball gold medal in 1993.
Sportsmen who Care: JR QUINAHAN and HIDILYN DIAZ
Hidilyn Diaz is a four-time SPIN.ph Sportsman of the Year (2016, 2018, 2021, 2022). This time, she is being honored for the work she and husband Julius Naranjo are doing to pave the way for the next generation of Filipino weightlifters. Nothing is more uplifting than a multi-medalled Filipino athlete giving back to a sport that made her a national treasure. She shares this honor with Quinahan, a PBA toughie who disregarded dmaage to his house and property to come to his neighbors' rescue during the floods that hit Cebu City. (See Toughie with a heart: JR Quinahan recounts horror of Cebu floods)
Breakthrough Athletes of the Year: NAOMI CESAR and ALBERT DELOS SANTOS
Seeing teenagers Cesar and Delos Santos leave their mark this year is assurance enough that the future of Philippine sports is in good hands. Cesar, 16, won the women's 800-meter run gold in the SEA Games, just months after winning silver in the same event at the Asian Youth Games. The 19-year old Delos Santos set a new juniors world record while competing at the World Championship in October before winning silver at the SEA Games.
Fighter of the Year: EUMIR MARCIAL
Leave it to Marcial to save the day on a relatively dull year for Philippine boxing. The Olympic medalist and unbeaten pro fighter averted a shutout for the national boxing team in Bangkok by ruling the 80kg division for the fifth SEA Games gold medal of his long, accomplished career.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
