By El Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine athletes delivered a string of impressive international performances in July, with tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and pool champion Chezka Centeno emerging as the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s leading achievers for the month.
Eala grabbed the spotlight at Wimbledon with a landmark victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek. The Filipino youngster prevailed, 7-6 (9), 6-2, to become the first Filipino in the Open Era to advance to the fourth round of the Grand Slam tournament.
The rising tennis star also made waves at the WTA 1000 DC Open in Washington, defeating two high-profile opponents — Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng of China and defending champion Leylah Fernandez of Canada — on her way to the quarterfinals.
Centeno matched Eala’s achievement with a major triumph of her own, ruling the WPA Women’s 8-Ball World Championship in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Her latest world title further highlighted the Philippines’ standing as a powerhouse in pool. Centeno had previously won the world 10-ball crown in 2003 and 2025 and was part of the Philippine mixed team that secured gold at the WPA Teams 10-Ball World Championship in February.
Other athletes and teams honored by the PSA included EJ Obiena, Alexsandra Diaz, Jay-R Colonia, the Manila and Sagay Pony baseball squads, Annie Ramirez and the Philippine Volcanoes.
Obiena posted two international victories during the month. He cleared 5.75 meters to win the Raiffeisen Austrian Open and followed it with a 5.76-meter effort for another victory in Germany. He later recorded a season-best 5.85 meters at Meeting Madrid, where he finished second.
Weightlifting produced another standout performance through Diaz, who dominated the women’s 48kg division at the IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Diaz collected three gold medals and broke two world records. She lifted 77kg in the snatch, 98kg in the clean and jerk and 175kg in the total.
Colonia also reached the podium after winning the clean and jerk with a 140kg lift. He added silver medals in the snatch and overall total.
On the baseball diamond, Manila and Sagay brought home championship trophies from the Pony International Softball World Series in McAllen, Texas.
Manila ruled the 18-and-under division after beating Pride Elite of the United States, 8-1, while Sagay captured the 14-and-under crown by defeating Mexico’s RXII Kino, 4-2.
Ramirez continued her dominance in jiu-jitsu by winning the adults’ 57kg division at the 10th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The victory marked her third championship in the continental competition.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Volcanoes completed an unbeaten campaign in the Asia Rugby Unions Cup in Nonthaburi, Thailand. They secured the championship after overpowering Malaysia, 39-18, in the final.
From the Wimbledon courts to the international pool table, weightlifting platforms and rugby field, Filipino athletes gave fans plenty to celebrate in July — another month that showcased the country’s growing presence in global sports.
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