Metro Manila, Philippines – Alex Eala and Bryan Bagunas have been chosen as the flag bearers for Team Philippines in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games opening ceremony on Dec. 9, Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino announced on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

“Popularity aside, Alex and Bryan have made impacts in the global sports community and that makes them the best choice to carry the flag in the SEA Games,” Tolentino said.

Eala is coming off a breakthrough season in women’s professional tennis as she ended the year as world No. 50.

Bagunas, meanwhile, served as the Alas Pilipinas men’s team captain that saw action in the 2025 FIVB World Championship held in the country last September.

The Philippines will be fielding close to 1,700 athletes in the upcoming SEA Games that consist of 574 events in 50 sports.

The 33rd SEA Games will run until Dec. 20 in two main hubs, Bangkok and Chonburi, in Thailand.

In the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, the Philippines finished in fifth place with a medal haul of 58 gold, 86 silver, and 116 bronze medals.