2018 in Philippine sports

Basketball

National Team

The Philippine Arena, the venue of the brawl between the Philippines and the Australia match at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

• July 2 – A bench-clearing brawl broke out between the Australia and Philippines men's national basketball teams during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier in Bocaue. With Australia leading by over 30 points with just over 4:00 left in the third quarter, play was halted for a foul. Australia's Daniel Kickert then swung his elbow at Roger Pogoy, immediately leading to both benches clearing and a melee spreading from the bench to one of the baskets. When order was restored and game officials reviewed video of the incident, a total of 13 players were ejected—four from Australia (including Kickert) and nine from the Philippines. This left the hosts with only three players to resume the game; after two of the remaining Philippines players fouled out, leaving that team with only one player, the officials called the game, with Australia winning 89–53.^[9]

• July 19 – Ten Gilas Pilipinas players got suspended from international play for figuring in the infamous brawl that marred the FIBA World Cup Asia qualifier match between the Philippines and Australia last July 2 at the Philippine Arena.^[10]

Baseball

• March 16 – The Adamson Soaring Falcons beating the De La Salle Green Batters in the finals of UAAP Season 80 baseball tournament marking the twelfth championship title.^[11]

Boxing

• February 3 – The Philippines’ Jerwin Ancajas made a huge splash in his much-awaited US debut by knocking out Mexico’s Israel “Jiga” Gonzalez in the 10th round to retain the IBF junior bantamweight crown at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.^[12]
• February 25 – Longest reigning Filipino champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes pulled off an impressive victory in front of American fight fans by stopping his Argentinean challenger Juan Carlos Reveco in 7 rounds of HBO’s “Super Fly 2” in Inglewood, California.^[13]
• April 21 – Carl Frampton kept his undefeated fight record after he had defeated Nonito Donaire via unanimous decision in a match held at the SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland.^[14]
• May 26 – Reigning IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas made a fifth successful title defense following a highly dominant performance over fellow Filipino Jonas Sultan at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California.^[15]
• June 10 – Albert Pagara won the WBO Intercontinental Super Bantamweight Championship title by gutting out a hard-fought decision against Laryea Odoi. of Ghana at the main event of Pinoy Pride 44 at the Maasin City Sports Complex, Maasin City, Southern Leyte
• July 15 – ABS-CBN, GMA Network and The 5 Network aired the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Argentinan boxer Lucas Matthysse, billed as the "Fight of Champions" which took place at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The boxing match was also broadcast live on pay-per-view through ABS-CBN's subsidiary company Sky Cable and The 5 Network's sister company Cignal; with rebroadcasts on the former's sister network S+A. The three networks was have previously involved in the roadblock airing of his match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. billed as "The Fight of the Century", or the "Battle for Greatness" with Solar Entertainment Corporation in May 2015. Manny Pacquiao defeated Lucas Matthysse in the seventh-round by knockout to win the WBA World welterweight championship at the main event of 'Fight of Champions" at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[16]
• July 15 – Manny Pacquiao won via technical knockout against Argentinian boxer Lucas Matthysse to retain WBA welterweight title in Malaysia.^[17][18]
• October 7– Milan Melindo has failed in his bid to become a world champion again after losing via technical knockout to Ken Shiro of Japan in their World Boxing Council light-flyweight bout in Yokohama, Japan.^[19]

Collegiate Sports

• March 16 – The NCAA Season 93 cheerleading competition and closing ceremonies were simultaneously held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.
• July 7 – The 94th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as hosted by the University of Perpetual Help System Daltas Was Commenced at the Mall of Asia Arena.
• September 8 – Collegiate sports: The 81st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) as hosted by the National University was Opened at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Football

• March 27 – The Philippine Azkals has made history at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium after beating Tajikistan, 2-1, to clinch their spot in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.^[20]
• April 5 – De La Salle Lady Boosters claimed their 10th Championship title of the UAAP Women's Football tournament.
• May 3 — For the second time in three seasons, University of the Philippines (UP) has ruled the UAAP men's football tournament.^[21]

Golf

• May 16–19 – The Philippines hosted the 2018 World University Golf Championship held in Lubao Pampanga.^[22]

Ice Hockey

• April 3–8 – The Philippines hosts its first International Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned event, the Top Division of the 2018 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia at the SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink in Pasay, Metro Manila.^[23] Mongolia emerged as champions with Thailand finishing in second place. The host third in the tournament despite tying in points with Mongolia and Thailand due to goal differences.

Mixed Martial Arts

• May 18 – Eduard Folayang retains his ONE lightweight championship in a unanimous decision over Kharun Atlangeriev at ONE: Unstoppable Dreams held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Multi-Sporting Events

• April 15–21 – The Vigan, Ilocos Sur province hosted the 2018 Palarong Pambansa.
• April 22–27 – Bohol will hosted the 2018 PRISAA National Games held in Tagbilaran City.
• May 19–21 – The 2018 Philippine National Games It will be co-hosted by the City of Cebu and the Province of Cebu, Philippines from May 19 to 25, 2018.^[24]
• August 18 September 2 — The Philippines participated at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from 18 August to 2 September 2018. The country won 21 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, and 15 bronze) to finish 19th overall in the medal tally of the games; an improvement from 22nd place placement of the country in the previous 2014 edition. However this came short of the 15th place target set by officials who deemed the actual placement as acceptable. Two of the Philippines' gold medal came from golf, while the other two came from weightlifting and skateboarding.^[25]

POC and PSC

• February 23 – The Philippine Olympic Committee held elections for the post of President and Chairman after the 2016 elections results were declared null and void by the Pasig Regional Trial Court. The court required Ricky Vargas and Abraham Tolentino to be candidates for the post of President and Chairman respectively.^[26] Vargas and Tolentino won over incumbents Peping Cojuangco and Ting Ledesma.^[27]

Volleyball

• February 19 − The Arellano Lady Chiefs seals their third championship title in the NCAA season 93 women's volleyball against the San Beda Red Lionesses in 2 games. Regine Anne Arocha acclaimed the Finals MVP title
• February 22 – The Perpetual Altas claims the NCAA Season 93 men's volleyball title after beating Arellano Chiefs in a four-setter do-or-die match, 25-23, 25-27, 25-19, 25-23. Perpetual Help's Rey Taneo, Jr. hailed as the Finals MVP.
• May 2
  • The National University Bulldogs are once again the kings of UAAP Volleyball after they defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles, in four hard-fought sets, on Game 2 of the best of 3 series. The final score was 25-20, 31-29, 22-25, 33-31.^[28]
  • The De La Salle University's (DLSU) De La Salle Lady Spikers won their 11th championship title, 3rd consecutive title in the season 80 of the UAAP Women's Volleyball Tournament against Far Eastern University's (FEU) FEU Lady Tamaraws in three straight sets: 26-24, 25-20, and 26-24. and Dawn Macandili, is now on UAAP year in DLSU, was named as the season's MVP, best scorer, best server, and the finals' MVP of the season.^[29][30]
• May 5 − The Petron Blaze Spikers seals their fourth championship title in the 2018 PSL Grand Prix Conference against F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in 4 games. Lindsay Stalzer acclaimed the Finals MVP title.
• July 11 – the Creamline Cool Smashers won their first championship in the Premier Volleyball League during the league's reinforced conference.^[31] Jia Morado was awarded the best setter and finals' MVP, Myla Pablo received the conference MVP honors.^[32]

Other Events

• January 16 – A day after a change in business direction of Creative Programs Inc., Liga starts its official broadcast as features the latest and classic sporting events from ABS-CBN Sports. Also as the official broadcaster of 2018 FIFA World Cup. Since the revival of their former channel, Balls went off-the-air two years of absence and a day absorbed to S+A HD which is now under their simulcast feed. The first test broadcast was launched on January 1.
• April 28 – May 6 — The 2018 World's Strongest Man was the 41st edition of the World's Strongest Man competition. It was held in Manila, Philippines from April 28 to May 6.^[33]