Kids are Born Stars: The Rising Gems of Philippine Sports
The Philippine sports scene has seen tremendous growth in various fields, underscoring the capability and capacity of our country to continually produce world-class athletes. Filipino athletes have now grown at an exponential rate and have seen more potential than ever before. The current growth and achievement of Filipino athletes have been incredible to witness, but the achievements of these young men and women have proven themselves worthy of a spot in the future of Philippine sports: Keiffer Alas, Ava Fajardo, Alex Eala, Aleah Finnegan, Albert Manas.
Kieffer Alas
Kieffer Alas, son of PBA legend Louie Alas, has also proven himself as one of the top basketball players in all of Asia. The 2007-born Alas is currently playing for the De La Salle Zobel’s basketball team in the UAAP Juniors Division and led the 16U Batang Gilas to clinch a spot for the Philippines in the 2024 FIBA 17U World Cup. In the 2023 Asian Championship, Alas averaged 15.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.6 APG, paving the way for a fourth-place finish while earning Mythical Five honors.
Ava Fajardo
Ava Fajardo, another ‘07-born basketball player, led the Gilas 16U Women’s team to a promotion to Division A of the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship. Born in the United States but a Filipino at heart, Fajardo has put her heart and soul into the Gilas program, proudly representing the country. The captain of the 16U team tallied 16.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 5.4 APG to lead the Philippines to the title, winning all five of their games, all with a margin no lower than 23 points.
Alex Eala
Alex Eala is a 2005-born tennis player who has proven her capabilities and potential throughout the past six years, smashing high-level competition in global tournaments. She won her first junior tennis tournament in France at the age of 12, and has represented the Philippines from then on. In 2022, she claimed her first Junior US Open Singles title and has been consistently ranked since. The prodigy Eala still has a long way to go, but she is more confident than ever and holds a bright future ahead in tennis.
Aleah Finnegan
Aleah Finnegan is a 20-year-old FIlipina gymnast who hasn’t gotten enough recognition for her raw skill. The Fil-Am has gotten little recognition as she formerly competed for the United States, but only recently started her stint in Philippine gymnastics. She is currently competing for Louisiana State University (LSU) but has made her mark in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games, leading the Philippines to the top podium. In the 2023 Asian Championships, Finnegan secured her spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics and will proudly represent the country.
Albert Manas
Last but not the least, Albert Manas is a sixteen-year-old from Antipolo City who has taken the billiard scene by storm. The grade 11 student first stole the national spotlight in 2022 when he defeated Filipino legend Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes in front of a large crowd at SM City Bacolod. Today, the swift Manas swept his competition and grabbed the 2023 Hanoi Junior Open Pool Championship title held in Vietnam. Manas has shot his way into the international stage, and he proves to be the next man up.
These five athletes are just some of the young Filipino athletes who have been proudly recognized in the Philippines. These young prodigies manifest the potential of Filipinos all over the world, bringing pride and joy to the country. All in all, these stories show that the Philippine Sports Commission must continue to support our young athletes, and invest in the future of Philippine sports.
