Final milestones of ‘25

Here is the third and last installment of memorable sporting milestones of 2025.

• Pacquiao returns with a bang. After a four-year absence from the ring, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao made a stirring comeback in Las Vegas last July but was robbed of wresting the WBC welterweight crown from Mario Barrios as the fight was declared a majority 12-round draw. Pacquiao, who just turned 47, didn’t look his age as he appeared to do enough to win over Barrios, 30. Now, the question is will Pacquiao continue to box and if so, whom will he face next? Floyd Mayweather Jr. looms as a possible opponent in a rematch more than 10 years after their first meeting.

• Conquering the pool tables. It was a sensational year for the country’s billiards stars. Carlo (The Black Tiger) Biado, 42, won the WPA nine-ball championship in Jeddah last July. Chezka Centeno, 26, claimed the Women’s World 10-ball title in Bali last October. Jonas (Silent Killer) Magpantay, 31, took the World Cup 10-ball crown in Doha last November.

• Filipino world boxing champs retain belts. IBF minimumweight titlist Pedro Taduran, 29, turned back challengers Ginjiro Shigeoka and Christian Balunan to keep his strap. WBC minimumweight king Melvin Jerusalem, 31, repulsed contenders Yudai Shigeoka and Siyakholwa Kuse to stay on the throne. They’re the only two reigning Filipino world boxing champions at the moment.

• Obiena still tops in Asia. EJ Obiena, 30, failed to qualify for the final of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September but remained unbeatable at the Asian level, clinching gold with a 5.77m clearance at the Asian Championships in Gumi last May and the SEA Games with a 5.70m leap in Bangkok last December. Obiena has his sights set on a third Olympic appearance in Los Angeles in 2028.

• Tabuena claims fourth Asian Tour title. There’s no stopping parbuster Miguel Tabuena who ruled the International Series Philippines with a three-shot victory at the Sta. Elena Golf Course last October. It was the 31-year-old 2010 Asian Games silver medalist’s fourth Asian Tour crown, breaking the record previously held by Angelo Que.

• Jiu-Jitsu crowns Filipina queens. Annie Ramirez, 35 and Kimberly Custodio, 38, were dominant at the JJIF World Championships in Bangkok last November. Ramirez crushed opponents from Canada, South Korea, France and Sweden for the 57kg title while Custodio took out rivals from Chinese-Taipei, Vietnam and United Arab Emirates for the 45kg diadem. Custodio added a gold at the SEA Games for good measure.

• Sanchez emerges most bemedalled Philippine athlete in SEA Games. Swimmer Kayla Sanchez, 24, collected three golds and five silvers at the biennial conclave. It was the first time the Philippines harvested more than two golds in swimming at the SEA Games since 2009. Sanchez earned a silver and bronze competing for Canada at the 2020 Olympics then switched to wear the Philippine colors starting the 2024 Paris edition.

• La Salle, San Beda and University of the Visayas reign supreme in men’s varsity basketball leagues. The Green Archers survived early season hiccups to barge into the playoffs as the fourth seed then upset defending champion UP, 2-1, in the Finals for the UAAP title. San Beda blanked Letran in two straight Finals games for the NCAA crown. UV beat University of Cebu in the Finals for its 17th CESAFI title.

• Gilas rises to occasion. Coach Tim Cone’s squad finished seventh at the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah last August but rebounded to beat Guam twice in the first FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window. Coach Norman Black took over from Cone and piloted a rag-tag team to the SEA Games gold in a blazing end to the year.

What an amazing 2025 was for Philippine sports, paving the way for more shining milestones in 2026.