Several Filipino athletes were still able to achieve success abroad despite the current conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the sporting landscape was shut down for several months, these star athletes found a way to give glory to the Philippines in 2020.
Carlos Yulo
Yulo, who was able to etch his name to the national consciousness in 2019 following a gold-medal finish at the FIG World Championships, was able to make impressive use of his down time while training in Japan.
He soared to the top of the latest men's floor exercise rankings of the FIG, a position he shares along with Rayderley Zapata of Spain. The gymnast also copped two bronze medals during the All-Japan Gymnastics Championship last Dec. 13.
EJ Obiena
EJ Obiena, the first Filipino to qualify for the postponed Tokyo Olympics, somehow got better during the pandemic. He bagged several medals, including a season-best clearance of 5.80 meters for a third-place finish at the Diamond League competition in Italy in September.
Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan
The two Filipino golfers could add to the total of the Filipino delegation to the Summer Games if they retain their spots in the 60-member roster. Saso is currently placed 21st, while Pagdanganan is 41st.
Saso soared to 45th in the most recent women's individual world rankings, following a joint 13th-place finish in the U.S. Women's Open in Houston, Texas on Dec. 14. Pagdanganan, on the other hand, sits at 150, after failing to advance to the next round.
Mike Plania
Boxer Mike Plania sits third in the WBO bantamweight division after knocking down Joshua Greer twice en route to a huge upset win by majority decision. Plania (24-1, 12 KO), secured his ninth straight victory, while Greer saw his 19-fight win streak crash to a screeching halt. Plania was also the first Filipino boxer to see action in a bubble in the U.S.
Thirdy Ravena
Thirdy Ravena made history after becoming the first-ever cager signed to the new Asian Player Quota rule of Japan's B.League.
Ravena was signed in June by San-En NeoPhoenix, but was not able to immediately suit up for the team due to visa issues. He made his debut on Nov. 7.
Despite the late entry and delay, he was still selected to join the league's All-Star Game slated for Jan. 17, 2021. Ravena is currently averaging 9.5 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 assists.
Kai Sotto
Kai Sotto is one of the crown jewels of Philippine basketball.
After making the move to the U.S., where he trained at The Skills Factory in Atlanta, Georgia, Sotto joined friend Jalen Green in the newly-formed NBA G League Ignite squad, a team composed of some of the top prospects out of high school.
Sotto also reaffirmed his commitment to the Gilas Pilipinas Men squad and could see action in the February window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Clark.
Alex Eala
Alex Eala opened 2020 with a bang after snagging the Australian Open doubles title last Jan. 31, along with Indonesian Priska Madelyn Nugroho, defeating Slovenia's Ziva Falkner and Great Britain's Matilda Mutavdzic in the Finals, 6-1, 6-2.
She was also able to make her professional debut in the $15,000 ITF Women's Futures in Monastir, Tunisia in March. The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar also made a deep run in the Roland Garros Junior Championships in France last October, where she reached the semifinals.
Eala's finish earned her the 2nd spot of the ITF Junior Rankings, also during that month. She is currently ranked 3rd.
Eumir Marcial
Marcial earned a spot in the Tokyo Olympics after winning gold in the Asia-Oceania Olympic boxing qualifiers in Amman, Jordan in March.
The middleweight conquered Mongolian Byamba-Erdene Otgonbaatar in the quarterfinals, Indian Ashish Kumar in the semis, and narrowly beat Abilkhan Amankul in the gold medal match to become the third Filipino to score direct qualification to the Games.
After months of contemplation, Marcial decided to elevate himself as a professional in July under MP Promotions. Despite his move to the pros, he reiterated that his main focus is still winning an Olympic gold medal.
Marcial flew to Los Angeles, California in September to train under renowned trainer Freddie Roach, along with conditioning coach Justin Fortune and compatriot Marvin Somodio, at the legendary Wild Card Gym. Along with Roach were
The 25-year-old made his pro debut on Dec. 17 in L.A., a four-round beatdown of Andrew Whitfield inside the Shrine Exposition Center.