Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — As the year comes to a close, greatness was witnessed again as sports legends were immortalized and new heroes born.
From a gritty men’s basketball team reclaiming glory to a women’s football squad breaking through on the pitch, we look back at the notable sports moments that made a mark in 2023.
Back on the mountaintop
The Philippines has not won a medal in the Asian Games men’s basketball tournament in 25 years –- and early on things weren’t looking great in this year’s edition of the continental showpiece in Hangzhou, China.
It looked like another heartbreak was waiting for the national squad.
A hastily assembled Gilas Pilipinas crew, who only had two weeks to prepare, was thrown into the fire. They had just concluded their campaign in the FIBA World Cup, where the Philippines served as a co-host.
The short time for training was hit with another roadblock as four Gilas players were deemed ineligible days before the start of the competition due to technicalities in submitting their roster to the organizing committee in China.
Gilas, however, was determined to compete at the sport’s highest level, as it immediately brought in replacements to join the team practices.
When the Asian Games got going, Gilas fought hard in every possession, overcoming obstacles and hurdles it faced along the way.
Down by 20 points in the semifinals match against China, Gilas completed a comeback victory behind the superhuman effort of naturalized player Justin Brownlee to score an upset win against the host nation.
In the gold medal match, Gilas relied on the momentum to shock the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-led Jordan en route to the crown in October.
Dampening the celebratory mood
A week following Gilas’ historic triumph in the Asian Games, news broke out that Brownlee failed a doping test a day after the national team captured the gold medal.
In a statement, the International Testing Agency said Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a substance linked to cannabis and included in the prohibited list of the world anti-doping agency.
The Hangzhou Asian Games organizing committee has yet to release a final report on the implication of Brownlee’s failed doping test.
Pending the decision, the Barangay Ginebra resident import is sidelined in the PBA and has been in a hiatus ever since.
As it stands, the Philippines is keeping the gold medal.
Biggest hoops fest
After 45 years, the Philippines hosted the FIBA World Cup. There were also games held in Japan and Indonesia.
Some of the best basketball stars graced the local hardcourt and battled for hoops supremacy.
Led by NBA star Jordan Clarkson, Gilas aimed for a better performance from its dead-last finish in the global tournament held in China.
Gilas struggled in the group stage against higher-ranked teams Dominican Republic and Italy. The Filipino cagers also suffered a tough loss to Angola.
In the classification phase, Gilas bowed to South Sudan but bounced back to stun China for its lone win in the prestigious competition.
The Philippines finished at 24th place in the tournament.
Germany reigned supreme and took home its first World Cup title.
As calls for his resignation grew following the disappointing campaign, Chot Reyes stepped down as Gilas head coach.
Bold striker
The Philippines entered the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a first-timer last July.
This meant whatever the stint’s outcome would be a welcome development for the program.
But one name was being closely monitored by fans: Sarina Bolden.
The lethal forward did not disappoint as she scored the breakthrough and lone goal for the Filipinas in the tournament.
The 27-year-old attacker scored the historic goal off a cross from Sara Eggesvik at the 24th mark against New Zealand, which was enough to secure the victory against the co-host nation.
The Filipinas ended their journey in the World Cup in the group stage with a win and two losses.
Spain was crowned champion in the tournament.
With their performance, the Filipinas soared to 38th place in the latest FIFA world rankings, jumping six spots higher from 44th place last August.
Soaring high
Pole vault sensation EJ Obiena finally joined the sport’s elite, after clearing the six-meter barrier to capture the gold in the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway in June, shattering both Asian and national records.
The world number two Obiena only needed a single try to jump over the six-meter mark to become the 28th member of the exclusive six-meter club.
He valiantly tried to clear the next height, 6.06 meters, but failed in his three attempts.
Life on the fast lane
Bianca Bustamante made history as she became the first Filipino to win in the newly formed all-female Formula 1 Academy race.
Representing the Italy-based PREMA Racing team, the 18-year-old dominated the second race of Round 2 in Valencia, Spain back in May.
British motorsport team McLaren noticed her promising talent and promptly signed Bustamante to its development program.
Bonjour!
Carlos Yulo earned a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics through the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium last October.
Yulo, who saw action in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, secured his ticket when he qualified as the highest-ranked eligible athlete in the floor exercise.
He finished third, earning 14.600 points, behind Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat and Fred Richard of the United States.
Aleah Finnegan also booked a Paris seat in the same competition, making her the first Filipina to qualify for the Summer Games next year.
The 20-year-old finished at 32nd place in the all-around qualification, taking one of the 14 Olympic berths in women’s gymnastics.
Meanwhile, Eumir Marcial also clinched an Olympic spot after advancing to the gold medal round of the men’s 80kg category with a win over Syria’s Ahmad Ghousoon in the 19th Asian Games in China.
The three join Obiena as the only Filipino athletes qualified so far for the Paris Games.
Arrows up, Lion’s roar
The De La Salle University Green Archers were one of the title contenders entering UAAP Season 86.
After an average outing in the first round, the Green Archers went undefeated in the second round to finish as the second seed.
La Salle easily trounced the National University Bulldogs in their Final Four game to book a best-of-three finals affair against top team University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
The Green Archers were obliterated by the Fighting Maroons in Game 1 of the finals, absorbing a 30-points beatdown — the most lopsided loss in a UAAP championship series opener.
La Salle regained its groove and reverse swept UP to reclaim the title in the do-or-die Game 3 earlier this month.
Kevin Quiambao, the Season 86 Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP, carried the Green Archers to their first title in seven years.
It was La Salle’s 10th championship overall in UAAP men’s basketball.
Amid offers from local and overseas teams, Quiambao ultimately decided to stay with the Green Archers for a crack at the title in Season 87.
In the NCAA, the San Beda Red Lions finally snapped a five-year title drought in men’s basketball.
Down 0-1 in the Season 99 finals, the Red Lions clawed their way back to force a decider against the Mapua Cardinals.
San Beda, the winningest school in the league, collected its 23rd crown overall with a convincing Game 3 victory over the Cardinals.
Cue master
Chezka Centeno grabbed the women’s world 10-ball championship title after beating China’s Han Yu in Klagenfurt, Austria in October.
Centeno took home the $50,000 (around ₱2.8 million) top prize.
She is the second Filipina to snag the crown after Rubilen Amit won the tournament twice.
The kids are alright
The Philippines won the team gold at the 21st Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships in Bangkok, Thailand last July.
Artegal Barrientos, Stephen Luke Diwa, Marc Dylan Custodio, and Zach Ramin scored 220, 193, 277, and 253, respectively, in the sixth and final frame to seal the victory.
The Philippines posted a total of 4,933, South Korea settled for silver with 4,922, while host country Thailand finished third with 4,918.
