SPORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Top 7 Most Popular Sports in the Philippines
Sports have undoubtedly evolved in the Philippines. From the ancient times when arnis was the main game to nowadays, when there’s an extensive range of games, the Philippines sports industry has come a long way.
Apart from being a source of entertainment, the sports sector is known to be a huge contributor to the country’s economy.
Below is a comprehensive guide on the ten most popular sports in the Philippines.
Basketball
Basketball is undeniably one of the most popular sports globally, and the Philippines is no exception. In fact, several recent surveys have shown that it is the most popular sport in the country.
It is believed that the game was first introduced into the country by the American colonizers in 1898 as part of the changes made in the Philippines’ school system.
Many people wonder why basketball is a popular sport in the Philippines, given that the people don’t have the typical height this game requires. Since the game is cheaper than other games in terms of space, gear, and so on, many Filipinos have grown to love this sport.
Boxing
It’s hard to mention the Philippines without boxing coming into the picture. This is mainly because of the legendary Manny Pacquiao, who has put the country in the global spotlight when it comes to boxing.
Before the country was colonized, Filipinos had their kind of boxing, known as bare-hand fighting or suntukan in Tagalog. It wasn’t until 1921 that the Philippines legalized the modern type of boxing.
Like basketball, many people are surprised why this sport has thrived in this country since it is a developing country. The success of boxing in the Philippines is mainly attributed to the people’s passion and overwhelming support for the game.
Tennis
Another surprisingly popular sport in the Philippines is tennis. It is believed that the game was introduced to the country by American colonizers in 1913. It was one of the sports that the American teachers (otherwise known as the Thomasites) taught in Filipino schools during the colonial period.
The country didn’t come into the global tennis spotlight until 1926, when it began participating in the Davis cup. Since then, Filipinos have thrived in this sport, bringing the country several accolades.
Similar to other popular sports in the Philippines, there are several national sports associations that work to keep tennis alive in this country. One of them is the Philippine Tennis League, which holds several national competitions.
Football
Football has quite a rich history in this country. Over a century ago, 15-year-old Paulino Alcántara Riestra became a striker for Barcelona, making him the first Filipino (and Asian in general) to play for a European football club. He also was Barcelona’s top scorer, scoring 357 goals, until Lionel Messi beat that record.
Unfortunately, football isn’t among the most popular sports in the Philippines,as most people believe. This is because it has not received as much attention as other popular sports such as boxing have. However, the country has been taking some significant steps to make it one of the most famous sports in the Philippines.
Billiards
Billiards is also one of the few popular sports in the Philippines with a rich history. The game began gaining fame in the country after World War II when the US became its colonizer.
However, it wasn’t until 1999 that the country got its big break in regards to this game when the Philippines’ Efren Reyes beat Chang Hao-Ping of Taiwan at the World Pool Association (WPA) Nine-Ball Championships in Cardiff.
This victory is believed to have opened doors of opportunities for this game to thrive. Many sponsors came in to support the game; pool halls started being renovated, and even the Filipino government invested money into this game by supporting local billiards tournaments.
Vollleyball has for many years been one of the most popular sports in the Philippines for various reasons. For starters, the game has a long history in the country.
The Philippine volleyball history dates back to the early 1900s when the Physical Director of the Young Men’s Christian Association, Elwood S. Brown, introduced the game to the Filipinos. Since then, the game has thrived in many ways, earning it a spot among the most popular sports in the country.
Arnis
Arnis was declared the national sport of the Philippines in 2009, dethroning Sipa Takraw. It is also considered the national martial arts of the Philippines.
This national sport was invented by the indigenous populations in the country back in the 16th century. It involves weapon-based fighting with various weapons, such as knives, sticks, and other bladed weapons.
