They say sports writing is a front-row seat to history, but this past year felt more like a backstage pass to greatness. If you told the younger version of myself that I’d be dodging tennis balls in Melbourne and stalking the fairways with golf’s elite, I would have told you, pinch me.
The journey started under the grueling Melbourne sun at the Australian Open in January.
There’s a different kind of electricity when you’re in a close encounter with Alex Eala.
Watching her waltzing in the court is like watching a masterclass in poise and Pinoy pride. She isn’t just hitting a ball; she’s carrying the hopes of a nation, and being that close to the action reminds you why we endure the heat just to be close with her under the Australian summer.
Then comes the October storm
Rubbing elbows with the likes of Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed is a surreal experience. These guys are the gods of professional golf, titans of the tour—cool, calculated, and intimidatingly precise.
But the real highlight? Seeing our very own Miguel Tabuena hold his own against these heavyweights. There’s a certain brotherhood on the green, and being in the middle of that circle—trading nods with the best in the world—is the stuff of every sportswriter’s dream.
It’s one thing to report on the scores, but it’s another thing entirely to be right there in the middle of the action with the athletes who define the game.
We don’t just cover the games; we live them. We feel the tension in the air while a serve is being hit and the silence while someone ‘s putting on the 18th green. This year, the stories didn’t just write themselves—they breathed.
Grateful for the access, the stories, and the front-row seat to greatness. Here’s to more sidelines, fairways, and deadlines in the year ahead! Here’s to the grind and the icons who make the coverage worth it.
Here’s a wish for Philippine Sports Excellence in 2026
May our sports coverage capture the weight of every swing and serve as Alex Eala and Miguel Tabuena rewrite the Philippine record books.
Let 2026 be the year we stop asking if Filipinos can compete on the world stage but instead
start documenting exactly how they conquered it.
Cheers, Happy new year!
