The year 2025 will be remembered as a landmark period for sports in Davao City, marked by historic firsts, international podium finishes, and the triumphant realization of long-held dreams. Athletes from the region showcased exceptional talent across the Southeast Asian Games, youth championships, and global competitions, embodying a spirit of resilience that brought pride to the entire Philippines.
Dabawenyos Power Philippine Campaign at 33rd SEA Games
Former Davao City standouts were instrumental in the Philippines' sixth-place finish at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. The national contingent secured a total of 50 gold, 72 silver, and 154 bronze medals, with Davao's representatives contributing significantly to the gold haul.
Making a spectacular debut in judo, multi-martial arts athlete Chino Sy Tancontian captured two gold medals. He triumphed in the men's -100kg division and later added another gold in the mixed team event. "I had been praying for this for several months," Tancontian shared, dedicating his victories to his faith, his country, and his family.
From Baguio District in Davao, 20-year-old baseball rookie James Vincent Nisnisan helped the Philippine team secure its third consecutive baseball championship. Their 5-3 finals victory over Thailand was a career-defining moment. "I still can't believe I'm able to hold a medal like this. It used to be just a dream," an elated Nisnisan stated.
Completing the trio of gold medalists was U.S.-based footballer Mary Louise 'Mallie' Ramirez. As part of the Philippine women's football team, she played a key role in a stunning championship upset against Vietnam. On Instagram, she expressed her gratitude in Bisaya: "Salamat sa tanan sa way undang na suporta... Dakong garbo nako nga moduwa para sa bandera!"
The city's medalists also included marathoner Arlan Arbois Jr. with a silver, and a strong contingent earning bronze: boxer Nesthy Petecio, jiu-jitsu specialist Marc Alexander Lim, distance runner Sonny Wagdos, petanque player Ceseil Domenios, tennis athlete Shaira Hope Rivera, and handball player Mary Grace 'Shang' Berte.
Historic Breakthroughs in Youth and School Competitions
Beyond the SEA Games, 2025 was a year of ending long droughts and setting new records for Davao's young athletes.
In a watershed moment for regional basketball, the Davraa Eagles finally clinched their first-ever secondary boys' basketball gold at the Palarong Pambansa. After five consecutive runner-up finishes, they defeated Western Visayas 67–51 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on May 30.
Building on that success, Team Pilipinas-Davao, led by the same Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) champions, dominated the Asean Schools Games in Brunei. They swept all five matches and secured the championship with a 90–86 victory over Malaysia.
Davao City also climbed the national ranks in the Batang Pinoy 2025, held in General Santos City. The city improved from fourth place the previous year to third overall, amassing 53 gold, 53 silver, and 68 bronze medals. Standouts included archer Abigail Jane Lim, who won six golds, and gymnast Harvey Nuique with four.
At the Palarong Pambansa itself, the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) maintained its fourth-place standing but improved its medal tally to 43 gold, 28 silver, and 36 bronze medals. Dancesport partners Bhenz Rudolf Owen Semilla and Francheska Dezzly Darvin delivered a perfect swan song, sweeping all six gold medals in the secondary standard category.
International Excellence and a Growing Sports Culture
The Tancontian siblings extended Davao's reach onto the global stage. Sydney Sy Tancontian earned double gold at the USA Sambo International and Oceania Sambo Championships, plus bronzes at the World Sambo Cup and Grand Prix de Sambo de Paris. Her brother, Chino, also claimed gold at the USA Sambo International and the All Japan Sambo Championships, before taking silver at the Oceania Judo Open in Australia.
Former Davao track star Sonny Wagdos continued his dominance abroad, defending his 10K title at the Asics META: Time: Trials in Thailand and winning the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon 10K. He also secured two 5,000m silver medals in Singapore and at the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships.
In a testament to overseas achievement, Dabawenya chess master Rowelyn Joy Segovia Acedo was honored as one of the 10 Outstanding Overseas Filipinos in the UAE during Gawad Pinoy 2025.
Back home, Davao's grassroots sports scene flourished. Running communities expanded with near-weekly events, gymnastics programs saw increased enrollment among children, and the emerging sport of pickleball gained traction, with new courts appearing across the city.
The collective achievements of 2025 affirmed the strength of Davao's sports ecosystem—a system built on locally honed talent, unwavering perseverance, and deep community support. For these athletes, the year transcended mere medal counts; it was powerful proof that dreams nurtured in Davao can indeed ascend to the world's biggest stages.
