Landmark triumphs

Conclusion

• Malixi Reigns in US

MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen-year-old Filipina ace Rianne Malixi took the world by storm in 2024.

She set the tone for her banner year with a thrilling one-shot victory over India’s Avani Prashanth in the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship in Braeside in January.

After settling for runner-up finishes at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley and the Royal Junior in Japan, Malixi swung her way to history by winning the US Girls’ Championship and the US Women’s Amateurs 22 days apart.

Wiser and hungrier after her close call in 2023, Malixi turned in her best golf in the final round to clinch the US Girls’ crown in record fashion over American Asterisk Talley, 8 and 7, in Tarzana, California in July.

The Philippine pride sizzled on a hot day at the El Caballero Country Club, gunning down 14 birdies without a bogey in 29 holes to finish off her rival with plenty to spare.

Three weeks later over in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Malixi annexed the US Women’s Amateur tiara as she reasserted her mastery over Talley in their marathon finale, 3 and 2.

The sixth-seeded Pinay racked up three birdies starting from the 13th hole of the Southern Hills Country Club to go three-up against Talley then sealed the deal with a par on No. 16.

Malixi carved her name in the record books as only the second player in history to win the US Girls’ Junior and US Women’s Amateur in the same year after Korean Eun Jeong Seong in 2016.

• Cardinals rule

The Mapua Cardinals ended their 33-year title drought by ruling the NCAA’s centennial season.

It was capped by a two-game finals sweep of the College of St. Benilde Blazers that was highlighted by a 94-82 victory before a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd including notable members of the glorious Mapua champion team in 1991.

Clint Escamis bagged the Finals MVP trophy following his magnificence in the finals.

But it might be the swan song for Escamis amid talks he’s turning pro.

After an up-and-down ride in the first round of the eliminations, Escamis found his rhythm, fuelling the Cardinals’ sweep of the second round.

They went on to beat the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates in the Final Four and then the Blazers in the finale.

In all, it was the Cardinals’ sixth seniors championship.

• Creamline Dominance Continues

The Creamline Cool Smashers firmed up their status as the most dominant franchise in the Premier Volleyball League with a collection of 10 championships, including a four-peat.

The Grand Slam was capped by the Cool Smashers’ double conquest of the Reinforced Conference where they smashed the Akari Chargers in the championship round and the Invitational where they turned back the Cignal HD Spikers in the one-game finale.

What made it more incredible was the fact that the proud club team has made it to the podium in 16 straight conferences including three runner-up finishes and the same number of third-place trophies.

Creamline’s perennial success can be credited to the core pieces that it has kept since joining the league in 2017.

Alyssa Valdez, its unquestioned leader and the face of Philippine volleyball, was at the center of it all and she was surrounded by other key pieces like Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, Pangs Panaga, Kyle Negrito, Michelle Gumabao, Kyla Atienza and relatively new members Bernadeth Pons and Bea de Leon among others.

And expect Creamline’s championship-churning machine to relentlessly roll on.

• Honorable Mentions

Tachiana Mangin struck gold in the women’s 49-kilogram division of the World Juniors Taekwondo Championships in South Korea, Daniel Quizon emerged the nation’s newest Grandmaster, claiming it in the Budapest World Chess Olympiad, and Ruelle Canino, a 16-year-old wonder girl, led the women’s team in snaring the Group B gold medal in the same biennial FIDE event.

Team Philippines ruled the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, emerging as the runaway overall winner with a haul of 11 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze medals.

The Gilas boys made heads turn and qualified to the FIBA U17 World Cup for the first time since the Kai Sotto-led team in 2018 while the Gilas girls got promoted to the FIBA Asia U18 Division A.

Team Philippines lorded it over Esports by essaying a five-peat feat in the MLBB World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The nation also produced champions in the World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Abu Dhabi in Princess Akeisha Reuma, Althea Brion, Aielle Aguilar, Marcus Sebastian dela Cruz and Yani Alexii Lopez.

Jhodie Peralta, Aldrin Colonia and Eron Borres combined for five mints in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Like his elder brother Carlos, Karl Eldrew Yulo was dominant internationally as he raked in seven of the country’s 14 gold medals in the Hong Kong Artistic Gymnastics International Invitational Championships.

Juancho Miguel Besana and Justine Ace de Leon also delivered gold.