6 Most Popular Sports In The Philippines
Sport is deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. From imports like basketball to traditional pursuits such as sabong, the most popular sports in the Philippines display a diversity that reflects the country’s history. Here’s a rundown of the popular sports Filipinos missed during the pandemic.
Basketball
The national sport of the Philippines is undoubtedly basketball. Introduced by Americans during the colonial era, Filipinos have enjoyed the game since 1910. After gaining independence in 1946, Philippines basketball experienced a golden era on the international stage, which helped cement the sport’s popularity.
These days, both the PBA and America’s NBA draw millions of viewers. According to reports on the popularity of basketball in the Philippines, around 40 million people play, while 81% of those surveyed claimed to be fans.
Boxing
They say that when Manny Pacquiao fights, the crime rate in the Philippines drops to zero.” Pac-Man is so loved that everyone finds a way to watch it. As unlikely as that seems, Pacquiao truly inspires Filipinos with his sporting achievements and philanthropy.
Among other feats, Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to hold world titles in four decades. But he remains humble, staying true to his roots. He grew up in poverty, and boxing, along with plenty of hard work, was his way out.
That tough upbringing is why Pacquiao has donated millions of dollars to good causes in his homeland, putting children through school, helping struggling farmers, and supporting churches and hospitals.
Sabong
Cockfighting, more commonly known as sabong by locals, is a huge part of Filipino culture. Although bloodsports may be frowned upon in the West, sabong is an obsession in the Philippines.
Almost every community has a cockpit and fights take place 365 days a year, even at Christmas. So deeply ingrained in the culture is cockfighting, that many people make a living from the industry, including gamblers. In fact, sabong betting is worth over PHP 50 billion annually (USD 1 billion). As a result, the government has recently made e-sabong legal.
It has always been against the law to gamble online. This shift in the mentality of lawmakers shows how influential sabong is. Existing guides to online betting in the Philippines deal only with offshore betting operators, so they cannot help you find sabong betting. Such comparison sites will help you find the best bonuses and promotions and suggest a secure place to bet, but as yet, they cannot help with e-sabong.
Billiards
Pool, or billiards as it is known locally, is a hugely popular pastime. No nation follows the sport as much as Filipinos, and that is mostly down to the long line of exceptional players that the country has produced.
Efren Reyes is arguably the greatest pool player ever to pick up a cue. With more than 70 major tournament titles on his resumé, including World Championships in both 8- and 9-ball, Reyes is worshipped across the country.
But he’s not the only big name that emerged from these islands. Dennis Orcollo, Jose Parica, and Francisco Bustamante have all enjoyed great success, which has inspired a love of billiards in the Filipino population.
Volleyball
The sport of volleyball is extremely popular in the Philippines, particularly among women. Whether it’s the UAAP and NCAA college volleyball championships or the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), attendance and viewing figures are always high.
Like basketball, volleyball’s history in the Philippines dates back to 1910 and the colonial era. In more recent times, the game has produced genuine stars, such as Ateneo graduate Alyssa Valdez. With more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram, this volleyball superstar is a role model to young ladies across the Philippines.
Football
Football (soccer) is still a minority sport compared to basketball, but it has seen significant investment in recent years. None more so than in 2020, when Qatar Airways became a sponsor of the Philippines Football League.
Although the Philippines national team will not be jetting off to enjoy the innovative stadium cooling technology at the Qatar World Cup next year, increased interest in soccer has seen them rise to 125th globally. That may not seem great, but in 2006 the Azkals were rated 195 out of the 197 countries affiliated with the global governing body.
