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The Philippines joined the rest of the world in paying its last respects to the “Black Mamba.” Andy Alvarez AFP / file
Was there a bigger story in sports this year than this? Bryant’s death sent shockwaves across the world, whether they were die-hard fans or casual followers.
The shock of the Lakers icon’s untimely passing, along with prospective basketball daughter Gianna and several others in a helicopter crash, was deeply felt for days, even weeks, in the Philippines, which regarded Bryant as an adopted son. Even 11 months later, the phrase “the late Kobe Bryant” still sounds surreal. RIP, Mamba.
In a surreal conclusion to the NBA’s longest season, Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, lifted the championship, a perfect tribute to the “Black Mamba” legacy.
Kobe’s passing was not the only big news to come out of the league, with game interruption due to COVID-19 and player involvement in the Black Lives Matter campaign among the notable stories.
For the first time, Pacquiao went a full calendar year without wearing his gloves and shorts. George Calvelo ABS-CBN News / Archive
For the first time since his professional debut in 1995 – that was 4 presidencies ago – Pacquiao was inactive for an entire calendar year. But that didn’t mean the reigning super welterweight world champion was not in the public consciousness for the past 12 months.
Pacquiao’s name was included as a possible next opponent for Conor McGregor, when the topic of a rematch (perpetually provoked) with Floyd Mayweather Jr. came up, when he collaborated with the esports community, and when the annual theme of “boxers “. calling him to fight. “
With Pacquiao, trusty old men like Nonito Donaire Jr. and Donnie Nietes, and champions like Jerwin Ancajas out of action, John Riel Casimero’s successful defense of his WBO bantamweight title ensured Philippine boxing maintained its glory at the ring, as well as the Olympic qualification of Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno.
Aldin Ayo and UST watched a game made in basketball heaven come to an abrupt end. Mark Demayo ABS-CBN News / Archive
It was supposed to be a quiet year in college sports as universities and colleges closed their programs due to the pandemic. But one day in late August, news came out of nowhere that CJ Cansino was leaving the Growling Tigers for the Fighting Maroons. However, that was just the beginning of a series of events that changed the landscape and revealed an alleged violation of quarantine protocols and the collapse of the UST program led by coach Aldin Ayo.
The death of the young soccer players Celestina Beatrice Luna and Alyana Bautista attracted much attention on social networks. Courtesy of their respective Facebook accounts
The soccer community lost two promising young soccer players in Alyana Bautista and Celestina Beatrice Luna due to illness, and their disappearance is trending online. Some of the Philippine sports personalities who died this year included chess player Arianne Caoili, UAAP holder with multiple titles, Aric del Rosario, boxing matriarch Laura Elorde, former PBA player Junel Mendiola and sports benefactor Eduardo. “Danding” Cojuangco.
Thirdy Ravena and Adrian Wong were just two of many Filipino athletes who came to the aid of their compatriots. Courtesy of Chooks-to-Go / file
Local athletes, whether students or professionals, stepped up their game in any way they could to help those who endured the brunt of the pandemic. From food aid drives to donation drives, they showed that, whether in sport or in real life, teamwork always makes the dream work.
Sprinter Kristina Knott engraved her name in Philippine sports history in August. Czar Dancel ABS-CBN News / Archive
Kristina Knott, a Filipino sprinter based in the United States, etched her name in Philippine sports history when she broke the long-standing record in the 200-meter sprint, an icon of distinction that Lydia de Vega held for 33 years.
Knott was not Pinoy’s only source of sporting pride abroad, as golfer Yuka Saso bagged 2 championships on the Japan LPGA Tour (in addition to emerging as his main source of income), tennis phenomenon Alex Eala took home home the trophy in the women’s doubles game at the Australian Open and a Filipino immigrant to the US Wesley So led the US Open chess competition.
James de los Santos was definitely not idle during the pandemic, racking up gold medal after gold medal at international online karate (kata) tournaments en route to 30 in total (and counting).
This year gave the country a glimpse into the future of the Philippines men’s national basketball team. Courtesy of FIBA / file
The Philippine Basketball Association made a bold decision to present to the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers a national team comprised primarily of non-PBA players.
The youngsters, led by head coaches Jong Uichico and Mark Dickel, and Gilas Pilipinas program director Tab Baldwin, did not disappoint, dismantling Indonesia in February and then Thailand twice in a bubble environment in November.
Barangay Geneva edged out TNT Tropang Giga to lift its first All-Filipino trophy in years. PBA Media Bureau / archive
Following in the footsteps of their older brother, the PBA rolled the dice and organized a bubble tournament of their own in Angeles City, Pampanga. Despite some positive COVID-19 cases, the league finally made it to the finish line, crowning beloved Barangay Geneva as the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup champion after stopping play for an unprecedented 7 months.
In other great stories about professional basketball, Calvin Abueva was finally allowed to return to the PBA after serving an 18-month suspension, San Miguel Beer assistant coach Jimmy Alapag and his family flew to the US. search for greener pastures, ending one of the most celebrated. races on domestic soil, and phenomenon Thirdy Ravena packed her bags for the Japan B. League.
The popularity of soccer in the Philippines reached its peak during the Younghusband era. AFP / file
With James’ retirement in June, he closed an important chapter not only in Philippine soccer but also in the country’s sporting history. His brother Phil hung up his tacos 7 months earlier.
Meanwhile, Azkals’ men’s national team saw some international seasons canceled, including the biennial ASEAN Suzuki Cup. The Philippine Soccer League (PFL), on the other hand, was down.
Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe (left) and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach bump elbows after a ceremony to present the Olympic Order to Abe at the Japan Olympic Museum in Tokyo on Monday, November 16, 2020. Kim Kyung-hoon, Pool Photo via AP / file
The magnitude of the cancellation of sporting events and tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both globally and locally, has not been seen since World War II.
The most important was the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which created a ripple effect on how international competition would be scheduled from then on.
On the home front, the UAAP and NCAA ended their respective events earlier this year when the pandemic spread to the Philippines. UAAP announced in December that it would also cancel season 83.
The PBA and the Philippine Football League were halted and then restarted, the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup was restarted as were friendlies, and dozens of sports federations halted competition in the face of one of the crisis in debilitating health the modern world has ever experienced.
