Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has officially expanded its medal pipeline, ratifying six National Sports Associations (NSAs) to Regular Member status during its 4th General Assembly.

The structural upgrade grants these governing bodies full voting rights, deeper access to national funding, and a direct pathway to represent the Philippines in upcoming global multi-sporting events. 

The strategic elevation aligns directly with POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino’s blueprint to maximize Team Philippines' podium finishes at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and upcoming continental games.

Here are the 6 newly elevated sports associations set to boost the country's international medal chances:

1. Floorball — A high-octane, six-on-six indoor sport combining the rapid strategy of ice hockey with indoor court agility has steadily built its mark across Asia. 
2. Sport Climbing — A high-octane vertical sprint combining Speed, Bouldering, and Lead climbing. After a breakout debut at the Tokyo Games, the discipline is firmly locked in as a core medal sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program.
3. Lacrosse — A fast-paced, high-scoring team discipline played with netted sticks. The sport is set for a historic, highly anticipated return to the Olympic stage at LA 2028 after more than a century off the official schedule.
4. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) — As the world’s fastest-growing full-contact combat sport, MMA made a successful debut at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and serves as a core medal event at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG).
5. Teqball — A dynamic, acrobatic soccer-table tennis hybrid that uses a curved table. The fast-growing sport has quickly gained momentum across the Asian Beach Games and regional international meets.
6. Kabaddi — An ancient, high-intensity contact sport famously recognized for its single-breath "raider" chanting. The discipline remains a perennial medal-yielding powerhouse at the Asian Games.

By granting these associations full regular membership, the POC secures the administrative and financial backing needed for these sports to develop elite grassroots talent and secure podium finishes on the world stage.

The Philippine Floorball Association (PFA) has officially secured Regular Member status in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), cementing a landmark achievement after 13 years of continuous grassroots growth and international competition. 

Led by PFA President Marco Angelo Ortiz, the association gained full voting rights within the country's governing Olympic body after the historic milestone was ratified during the POC 4th General Assembly.

Floorball is a high-octane, six-on-six indoor sport combining the rapid strategy of ice hockey with indoor court agility has steadily built its mark across Asia. 

Over the past decade, national floorball teams have consistently represented the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, Asia-Oceania qualifiers, and the World Floorball Championships. 

With this recognition, the sport moves from a fast-growing indoor discipline to an official centerpiece of the national athletic lineup.

POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino emphasized that integrating emerging sports like floorball strengthens the nation's overall sports masterplan. 

Achieving regular POC membership unlocks vital access to national strategic support, broader funding streams, and direct developmental pathways to bolster Filipino athletes as they target podium finishes at major events like the SEA Games and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG).

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) partnered with SportsPlus PH rewarded Team Pilipinas’ medalists from the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with the newly released iPhone 18 series. 

POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Secretary General Atty. Wharton Chan, and SportsPlus PH President Andre Uy led the distribution ceremony, personally turning over the high-end Apple devices to the national athletes who secured a historic 29-medal harvest for the country.

The incentive directly reflects podium achievements, granting Gold medalists an iPhone Duo, Silver medalists an iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Bronze medalists an iPhone 18 Pro. 

Beyond serving as a luxury reward for their hard work and dedication, the modern devices aim to support the athletes as they transition into their next international campaign leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

POC President Bambol Tolentino highlighted that these flagship smartphones will serve as valuable tools to elevate the daily preparation and athletic development of the national team. 

"This incentive will significantly aid our athletes in surfing new conditioning and training methods online," Tolentino said. 

"It allows them to discover new techniques and fully utilize modern fitness apps to further enhance their training and skills." POC President continued. 

In addition to performance optimization, the POC chief pointed out the importance of keeping national athletes engaged with their growing fan base and support networks. 

"Of course, it also gives them the best tool for socialization and mingling with their loyal fans and supporters online," POC President Tolentino added, emphasizing the role of digital connectivity in building personal brands and maintaining strong ties with the Filipino sports community. 

PARAÑAQUE CITY—Fresh off Team Pilipinas’ historic 29-medal triumph at the 2026 Asian Games, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) immediately shifted into high gear, convening its 4th General Assembly on Thursday, October 22, at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant. 

While the assembly opened with a comprehensive report celebrating the country's recent continental success, leaders made it clear that there is no time to rest. 

POC officials immediately laid out strategic frameworks to maintain momentum, establishing concrete roadmaps for upcoming international delegations and strengthening the country's position on the global sports stage.

The committee centered its immediate agenda on high-stakes international competitions scheduled for later this year, fine-tuning operational plans for both the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, and the 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Beyond preparing athletes for overseas deployment, the assembly focused heavily on domestic infrastructure and organizational readiness as the Philippines prepares to step into the spotlight as a premier destination for regional events.

In a landmark step forward, the POC outlined execution strategies for two major upcoming hostings: the 1st Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games and the 2028 Asian Beach Games. 

Coupled with critical updates from the Membership Committee to streamline national sports association governance, the assembly reaffirmed a unified, aggressive push to propel Philippine athletics to unprecedented heights.

NBA Global Strategy & Operations Director Eddie Chan met with Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick C. Gregorio and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Erika Dy at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on October 23, 2025 to spearhead new global opportunities for young Filipino athletes. 

As the lead for the NBA Rising Stars Invitational NBA Asia's premier Asia-Pacific youth tournament, Chan detailed plans to directly connect local talent with high-level international competition.

The summit extended to the Department of Education (DepEd), where leaders met with Undersecretary Malcolm Garma to align international basketball standards with local school sports. 

By bridging regional programs with global basketball benchmarks, the initiative aims to build a robust, streamlined athletic pathway for student-athletes across the archipelago.

Discussions focused on integrating top school-based basketball tournaments with premier Philippine grassroots platforms, specifically DepEd’s Palarong Pambansa and PSC’s Batang Pinoy. 

This unified approach intends to scout talent earlier and give promising players direct access to elite developmental pipelines.

This landmark collaboration between NBA Asia, the PSC, SBP, and DepEd paves the way for Filipino youth to step onto the global stage. 

Stakeholders now look forward to concrete tournament developments that will elevate grassroots sports and inspire the next generation of Philippine basketball stars.