Sports

10 Filipino Sports Movies To Have On Your Watchlist

Published

4 months ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

10 Filipino Sports Movies To Have On Your Watchlist

Grit, determination, and the human spirit all take center stage in these Filipino movies.

It’s one thing to watch a sports game or match on TV, but it’s not the same as watching a sports movie. Sports told through a cinematic angle is something else. Not only can they provide a new perspective on a certain sport and even delve deeper into the action, but sports movies can also teach viewers something that goes beyond the physical aspect of the activity, with stories, characters, and narratives to remember.

Such is the case for the following Filipino sports movies. Sports as a subject matter in local cinema is nothing new, with some of the earliest going back decades, so these films are a slice of what you can expect. These movies may center on different sports, but they all showcase the highs and lows of competition and the power of the human spirit in more ways than one.

SUNSHINE

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Sunshine tells the tale of 19-year-old gymnast Sunshine, who has dreams of taking her career to the Olympic stage. But her world suddenly comes crashing down when she learns that she’s pregnant, leading her down a dangerous path as she seeks to terminate the pregnancy. At the heart of the movie is a young woman who is constantly let down by a society that refuses to take women’s health as seriously as it should, but don’t sleep on the film’s gymnastics side.

Its opening and closing scenes in particular are dazzling as Maris Racal transforms into a world-class gymnast whose moves will have you transfixed on the screen. The talent, discipline, training, and determination on display are impressive.

ROOKIE

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The star of Cinemalaya 2023, Rookie follows Ace (Pat Tingjuy), a new student in an all-girls’ Catholic school who is asked by her school’s volleyball coach to try out for the team. While Ace initially feels awkward as part of the team, things begin to change when she meets Jana (Aya Fernandez), the team captain, and the two begin to form a friendship that turns into something special. For a country that loves volleyball, it’s lowkey surprising that we don’t have that many volleyball-centric movies. But what else makes Rookie special is its LGBT coming-of-age story that weaves through the protagonist’s athletic and personal journeys.

GG: GOOD GAME

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Esports takes the spotlight in this movie starring Donny Pangilinan. He plays Seth, a college student who is more focused on playing video games rather than his studies. Throughout the movie, we follow his struggle to fit in with a family that he never knew while trying to make his dreams as a pro esports player a reality. As part of the rag-tag esports team Tokaw’t Bad Bois, Seth and his crew compete in the Requiem tournament, the movie’s version of a popular online shooter. Part family drama, part gaming flick, the movie handles its subject matter pretty well.

THELMA

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Grit and determination in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds are at the heart of this 2011 drama starring Maja Salvador. She takes on the role of Thelma, an impoverished high school student in Ilocos Norte who is an excellent runner. When tragedy strikes her family, Thelma uses her talents to provide a better life for herself and her family as she literally and figuratively races her way to the top.

PATINTERO: ANG ALAMAT NI MENG PATALO

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A movie about patintero? Yes, and it’s pretty good. Set in the streets of Barangay San Jose, which loves their game of patintero, we meet Meng Francisco. She is seen as the neighborhood loser for her love of the game, but her frequent failure at actually being good at it. But that doesn’t stop her from assembling an unlikely team of fellow losers to compete in the biggest patintero competition in the area. As they strive to get their Ws, the movie proves that there’s actually a lot you can learn from patintero.

FRIENDLY FIRE

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Mikhail Red’s take on the esports scene stars Loisa Andalio as Hazel Sales, a female amateur gamer who plays the shooter game Project: Xandata and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Discovered and recruited by Sonya Wilson (Coleen Garcia), Hazel soon joins Sonya’s professional esports team, dubbed Team Isla.

At first, Hazel finds it hard to adjust to the rigorous training and the team dynamics. Further complications arise when the team’s two lead players, Ryan and Yves, are at odds with Hazel after doubting her ability to play Xandata. With esports becoming more and more popular among the new generation, the movie takes a look at the realities of trying to make it professionally in the field.

BAKIT ‘DI TOTOHANIN

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Now if we’re talking classics, this Star Cinema gem from 2001 is for the OG Juday stans. Katong (Judy Ann Santos) finds herself getting in the boxing ring after her mom loses their family’s boxing gym in a gambling bet. Determined to beat the man who won the bet and their gym, she enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend, Paul (Piolo Pascual), to train her for the upcoming match as he’s the best boxing trainer she knows. This obviously won’t lead to any romantic rekindling, right?

FUCHSIA LIBRE

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Despite what some may say, Filipino movies are diverse. For example, did you know that there’s a movie about wrestling that was released just last year? Yup, and it’s called Fuchsia Libre. The action-comedy centers on Oliver, a gay man who takes on the persona of Fuchsia Libre at an underground wrestling tournament. The problem? One of his sponsors, Danilo, happens to be his estranged dad who doesn’t know it’s him under the mask and doesn’t approve of Oliver’s sexual orientation. As he makes his mark on the ring, Oliver must find the strength to tell his father the truth.

MANGARAP KA

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Mark Anthony Fernandez and Claudine Barretto star in this 1995 film, which combines track, college, and young love. Nonoy and Jenny are childhood friends who move to Manila to pursue college at UP, with the former getting a scholarship for being part of the university’s running team. But as they adjust to their new environment, all is not well with vices and hidden feelings complicating their friendship.

THE BASEBALL PLAYER

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Conflict, sports dreams, and aspirations collide in this award-winning movie starring Tommy Alejandrino that took home Best Film at Cinemalaya 2022. In it, we follow Amir, a 17-year-old Moro child soldier pulled into war. However, he dreams of a different life for himself, one where he’s a baseball player. As he pursues his athletic goals, Amir finds himself in a tug-of-war between his baseball life and his old life as a soldier.

BONUS: TV SHOWS

While not movies, these sports-centric series are also worth watching.

SUNTOK SA BUWAN: Aga Muhlach and Elijah Canlas play father and son in this boxing drama on redemption.

HEARTS ON ICE: Described as the Philippines’ first-ever ice skating drama series, the show tells the story of Ponggay (Ashley Ortega), an aspiring figure skater who dreams of becoming a champion for her overbearing mom despite her leg impairment.

LOVE AT FIRST SPIKE: This digital series on acceptance, growth, and inclusivity follows Uno (Emilio Daez), a hot-headed basketball player who may get his redemption arc after joining the school’s men’s volleyball team.

Continue Reading: 10 Movies To Watch That Capture A Slice Of The Pinoy Spirit

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Tharayil Competes in Heptathlon to Kick Off Men’s Indoor Track and Field Season

Published

4 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Men’s Track and Field | 12/5/2025 6:55:00 PM

Findlay, Ohio – First-place finishes in shot put and 1,000 meter helped senior Justin Tharayil grab third-place in the heptathlon with 3,900 points at the 2025 Oiler Opener and Multi, hosted by Findlay University. He finished behind Camden St.John of Findlay and first-place Nick Farfoglia of conference foe Wittenberg, who had 4,556 points.

Tharayil posted first-place finishes in shot put (10.89m), and 1000 meter (3:02.56), and took second in high jump (1.80m). His high jump and shot put marks make it a career-best for the senior. He also had a 3.10m mark in pole vault to help solidify his third-place ranking. His 3,900 points is a career-best in the heptathlon.

Scored Events

60m – 7.91 (4th)

Long Jump – 5.86m (3rd)

Shot Put – 10.89m (1st)

High Jump – 1.80m (T-2nd)

60m Hurdles – 9.84 (3rd)

Pole Vault – 3.10m (3rd)

1000m – 3:02.56 (1st)

Up Next for the Big Red

Denison travels to Springfield, Ohio to compete in the Tiger Opener hosted by Wittenberg University tomorrow Saturday, December 6.

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Sports

Season Preview: Men’s Indoor Track and Field Ready to Build off Previous Seasons

Published

20 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. The Hartford Men’s Track and Field team is eager to start the upcoming indoor season. The Hawks come off the heels of a Conference Championship a season ago, as well as a 14th place finish in the NCAA Division III New England Championship. The group looks to build on last year’s success to push themselves even further in the 2025-26 season.

Familiar Faces:

Head coach Connor Green comes back for his third year at the helm of both the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field coach. He welcomes back 34 returners who look to make their mark following a successful season last year. Amongst the top returners is sophomore Aidan Lybarger (South Burlington, Vt.) who last year was honored as USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field All-Region in Discus, CNE All-Conference First Team (Discus), as well as becoming a school record holder (Outdoor Discus – 52.49 Meters).

“I think we’re going to have a pretty good season overall, especially from the throwers perspective. We all have gotten a lot better from last year which is amazing.” Lybarger said.

Senior Peter Effinger (Washingtonville, N.Y.) is also a key returner for the Hawks, coming off a CNE Academic All-Conference season, a year ago.

“I’d like to go out and have a good season, set some PRs, and hopefully win another championship. Continue with hard training, making good progress in workouts, and trying to get under those milestones.” said Effinger.

Another key returner is junior Thomas Yonkers (Farmington, Conn.), who last season was honored as CNE Academic All-Conference, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, School Record (Outdoor Pole Vault – 4.25 Meters).

“I think we’re looking to get back to the CNE and win the conference again, and we’re looking like a good team like last year. I’m most excited to see how the freshmen really develop their spots on the team. We’ve got a couple new vaulters, who I’m really excited to see this year in their first college season. ” Yonkers said.

Season Outlook:

The Hawks will begin their season at the Yale invitational on Dec. 6th. Following that event they will take on the Wesleyan University Invitational on Jan. 24th. They will also compete in the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 31st. The Hawks will close out the indoor track and field season at the NCAA Division III New England Championships in Boston at the New England at the Track of New Balance.

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

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Kentucky Track and Field Opens 2025-26 Indoor Season at Commodore Winter Challenge – UK Athletics

Published

36 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats track and field team is set for the start of a new indoor season this Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. at the Commodore Winter Challenge, hosted by Vanderbilt University.

For the first event of the new season, the Wildcats will send 45 total athletes to Nashville, competing across 21 separate events. The travel list for the weekend’s event is highlighted by returners Camden Bentley, Hannah Douglas, Sharmelle Holmes, Stacey Onyepunuka, Kate Powers and Emmi Scales on the women’s side and Grayson Brashear, Patrick Faust, Miles Jones, Devin Sealey and Anthony Waterman on the men’s side.

The Wildcats welcome 40 total newcomers to the 2025-26 roster, including 22 on the men’s side and 18 on the women’s side. Of the 40 new additions, 30 feature as true freshman, looking to make their collegiate debut this weekend for the Wildcats.

During the indoor portion of the 2025-26 schedule, the Wildcats will compete in eight meets, beginning with tomorrow’s event in Nashville. Following the turn of the calendar, Kentucky will host the Rod McCravy Memorial on Jan. 9-10 at the Norton Center in Louisville, Ky.

The final stretch of the regular season for the Cats consists of the Crossroads of America Invitational (Jan. 23-24), Razorback Invitational (Jan. 30-31) and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and the Tiger Paw Invitational on Feb. 13-14.

For the second consecutive season, the Texas A&M Aggies will play host to the 2026 SEC Indoor Championships at the Fasken Indoor Track & Field Facility in College Station, Texas on Feb. 26-28. The 2025-26 indoor season will conclude on Mar. 13-14 in the Cats’ second trip to Fayetteville, Ark. for the NCAA Championships.

On Saturday in Nashville, Kentucky will compete against fellow SEC programs Tennessee and host Vanderbilt, as well as Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

Competition for the Commodore Winter Challenge in Nashville is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET, starting with Meagan Ewers, Gwyneth Lori, Kate Powers and Addison Stadsholt representing the Wildcats in the women’s weight throw event.

Event Schedule

Commodore Winter Challenge: Saturday, December 6: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME
Women’s Weight Throw	9:30 a.m.	FINAL	Meagan Ewers, Gwyneth Lori, Kate Powers, Addison Stadsholt
Women’s High Jump	9:30 a.m.	FINAL	Kemarah Howard
Men’s High Jump	9:30 a.m.	FINAL	Devin Sealey
Men’s Long Jump	11:00 a.m.	FINAL	Kingi McNair
Men’s Pole Vault	11:00 a.m.	FINAL	Grant Harrison, Jack Marek
Men’s Weight Throw	11:30 a.m.	FINAL	Grayson Brashear, Brock Conrad, Cian Crampton
Women’s Long Jump	12:30 p.m.	FINAL	Dahlia Beasley, Julia Gunnell, Kemarah Howard, Skyler Reynolds
Women’s 60m Hurdles	1:00 p.m.	PRELIMS	Dahlia Beasley, Camden Bentley, Julia Gunnell, Kashia Hoo, Kori Martin, Rukia Nusra Omulisia, Emmi Scales, Alene Washington
Men’s 60m Hurdles	1:25 p.m.	PRELIMS	Anthony Waterman
Women’s Shot Put	1:30 p.m.	FINAL	Dahlia Beasley, Meagan Ewers, Julia Gunnell, Gwyneth Lori, Addison Stadsholt
Women’s 60m	1:45 p.m.	PRELIMS	Briley Cline, Sharmelle Holmes, Naseera Efua Quansah, Briana St. Louis
Women’s Pole Vault	2:00 p.m.	FINAL	Kaylee Daniel, Annie Murphy, Chelsea Wetzel
Men’s 60m	2:00 p.m.	PRELIMS	Coy Hyre, Miles Jones, Jack Marek, Zyrie Stewart-McLaren, Oscar Baltan Vivero
Men’s 60m Hurdles	2:45 p.m.	FINAL	TBD
Women’s 60m Hurdles	2:55 p.m.	FINAL	TBD
Men’s 60m	3:05 p.m.	FINAL	TBD
Women’s 60m	3:15 p.m.	FINAL	TBD
Men’s/Women’s Triple Jump	3:30 p.m.	FINAL	Theo Mudzengerere
Men’s Shot Put	3:30 p.m.	FINAL	Grayson Brashear, Brock Conrad
Women’s 300m	3:35 p.m.	FINAL	Dahlia Beasley, A’Laji Bradley, Briley Cline, Tressia Davis, Hannah Douglas, Julia Gunnell, Kashia Hoo, JahQueen McClellan, Rukia Nusra Omulisia, Emmi Scales, Briana St. Louis, Alene Washington
Men’s 300m	3:55 p.m.	FINAL	Tyrique Johnson, Brandon Nyandoro, TK Pahuwa, Zyrie Stewart-McLaren, Oscar Baltan Vivero
Women’s 600m	4:15 p.m.	FINAL	Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera
Men’s 600m	4:35 p.m.	FINAL	Patrick Faust
Women’s 4x400m	5:05 p.m.	FINAL	Kentucky
Men’s 4x400m	5:20 p.m.	FINAL	Kentucky

Follow Kentucky Track and Field and Cross Country on Facebook, Instagram, X, and UKathletics.com.

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Cyclones meet St. Thomas for NCAA Volleyball Championship first round – Iowa State Daily

Published

37 minutes ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Iowa State volleyball team will return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season. The No. 23 Cyclones (22-7, 12-6 Big 12) will face the St. Thomas Tommies (21-9, 11-5 Summit League) in the opening round.

“This is the first time I get to experience something like this, and I’m just really happy I get to experience it with this group of girls in this program,” senior middle blocker Tierney Jackson said. “I’m ready to have a long run in Minnesota.”

Iowa State will be participating in its 18th NCAA Tournament, while the Tommies are making their first appearance in program history.

This is the first postseason St. Thomas is eligible to compete in after elevating to the Division I level for the 2021 season. The Tommies won their first Summit League Tournament, making them undefeated in Division I postseason play.

The Tommies secured their NCAA Tournament berth by claiming the Summit League title. St. Thomas defeated No. 1 seed South Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament championship.

The Tommies are the only team to defeat the Jackrabbits over the past two seasons, winning in 2024 and 2025.

The Summit League champion has not won an NCAA Tournament match for 28 seasons. The last tournament victory for the conference came in 1977 — a five-set win for Oral Roberts over Arizona.

The Big 12 does not hold a conference tournament, giving its automatic NCAA bid to the regular-season champion.

No. 8 Arizona State (26-3, 17-1 Big 12) had a near-perfect conference schedule, their one loss coming to the Cyclones on Oct. 31. The Halloween victory was Iowa State’s biggest win of the season.

“I am super excited to make the tournament and continue on our run with my favorite group of girls, and we’re excited to go to Minnesota,” senior setter Morgan Brandt said.

Iowa State team in huddle after loss against Kansas State, Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa, Nov. 29, 2025. (Jaxon Carr)

Brandt was the Big 12 Setter of the Year and leads all active Big 12 players with 3,736 career assists. She also led a Cyclone offense that topped the conference in assists at 13.03 per set.

Iowa State occasionally switched from a 5-1 to give sophomore setter Ava Martin opportunities.

St. Thomas had an impressive nonconference schedule, with its best win coming against Big Ten opponent Northwestern. The Tommies won seven straight matches after defeating Northwestern, a program best since joining Division I.

The match will be played at Minnesota’s Maturi Pavilion, a venue where St. Thomas has already taken a set this season. The Tommies took a set from then-No. 11 Minnesota on Aug. 31, the first set victory against a ranked opponent in program history.

While the Cyclones are favored in this matchup, they have lost their last two matches, while the Tommies have won five straight.

These teams have met once before. In 2021, Iowa State swept St. Thomas in the same building as part of the Diet Coke Classic. The only active player from that match is Iowa State redshirt senior defensive specialist Paula Krzeslak. She has appeared in 94 matches across her Cyclone career.

Both head coaches have led their programs for more than 20 years. Christy Johnson-Lynch is in her 21st season with Iowa State, and Thanh Pham is in his 23rd season at St. Thomas. Pham coached the Tommies to a Division III national championship in 2012, while Johnson-Lynch has guided Iowa State to two Division I regional finals (2008, 2011).

“We never want to take the day for granted,” Johnson-Lynch said. “So we’re excited to get up there and get going.”

St. Thomas will play Iowa State at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Maturi Pavilion and will stream on ESPN+. The winner will advance to face either No. 4 seed Minnesota or Fairfield in the second round Saturday.

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Pilots Open Indoor Season at BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

Published

52 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Event: BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener
Host: Boston University
Date: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2024
Location: Boston University Track and Tennis Center (Boston, Mass.)
Live Results: PortlandPilots.com
Live Video: PortlandPilots.com

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS & PILOTS’ ENTRIES
• Women’s Mile: 9 a.m (PT) | Rose Perotin
• Men’s 3000m: 11:40 a.m (PT) | Mark Milner
• Men’s 5000m: 4:15 p.m (PT) | Jonas Price

THIS WEEK
• The Pilots are set to compete at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, hosted by Boston University in Boston. They will be represented in three events.
• Live results and video streaming are available on PortlandPilots.com.

Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.

Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Pilot Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly helps our nearly 300 student-athletes as they strive to make a difference in our community and achieve academic and athletic excellence. Thank you for support of Pilot Athletics!

Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.

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Craig Announces 2025-26 Track & Field Schedule

Published

1 hour ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Winthrop Track & Field Head Coach Raffael Craig has unveiled the Eagles 2025-26 indoor and outdoor schedule on Friday, outlining a slate that begins in early December and runs through the end of May.

“I’m proud of the work they have all put in,” said Craig. “This first meet will be a good opportunity to see where we are at heading into the holiday season.”

The Eagles open the indoor season on Dec. 7 at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off in Winston-Salem, N.C. Winthrop continues at the Gamecock Opener on Jan. 10 in Columbia, S.C., followed by three meets in Tryon, the Tryon International Classic (Jan. 16-17), the Tryon College Banked Invitational – East Coast Elite (Jan. 30), and the Tryon Mid-Winter Collegiate Invite (Feb. 13-14).

The Big South Conference Indoor Championship is scheduled for Feb. 27-28 in Tryon.

Outdoor competition begins with the Big South vs. Southern Conference Challenge on Mar. 20-21 in Asheville, N.C. Winthrop will also compete at the Raleigh Relays (Mar. 26-27) and the VertKlasse Meeting (Apr. 2-3) in High Point, N.C.

The program will host the annual Winthrop Invitational on Apr. 17-18 at the Irwin Belk Complex. The regular season concludes at the Lenoir-Rhyne Open on Apr. 25 in Hickory, N.C.

The Big South Conference Outdoor Championship is set for May 11-13 in High Point, N.C. Qualifiers will advance to the NCAA Championships East First Round, held on May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky.

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