2019 TOP PINOY MALE ATHLETES

Philippine sports made huge strides in 2019 with several athletes making it big time in the national and international stage. These talented and dedicated male athletes made Pinoy fans proud on the past year and are raring to get more success this year.

1. Carlos Yulo

Last Year: 1

It was a great year for gymnast Carlos Yulo. After winning bronze at the 2018 World Championships, he made it much better making history as the first ever gymnast from Philippines to win gold taking the top prize in the Floor Exercise. In last year's SEA Games he won 2 golds and 5 silvers and he has also already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics this 2020.

2. Ernest Obiena

Last Year: 16

After a sad 7th pace in the Asian Games in 2018, EJ made us believe once more as he vaulted to a gold medal at the SEA Games Pole Vault competitions for a Games Record of 5.45 meters. Earlier last year he qualified for the Olympics by surpassing the qualifying standard making a 5.81 meters finish in a tournament in Chiara, Italy which also stands as the current national record.

3. Bryan Bagunas

Last Year: 10

Bryan Bagunas wa one of the instruments in the RP team's silver finish at the SEA Games volleyball competitions. The 22 year-old star plays for the Japanese club, Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler of V.League 1 where he is among the best imports of the league.

4. James Deiparine

Last Year: N/A

Swimming was on a decade long slump at the SEA Game but it was all erased with Deiparine winning gold at the 100 meters breaststroke setting a new Games and National record. He finished with another silver at the 50 meters event.

5. Marck Espejo

Last Year: 3

Marck Espejo teamed with Bagunas and company to give the Philippines a reason to rejoice as the boys grabbed the silver at the Volleyball competitions in the SEA Games 2019. After playing for Oita Miyoshi Weisse in Japan in 2018, he grabbed a playing spot at the Thai League for the Visakha team.

6. Kai Sotto

Last Year: 11

Kai Sotto just keeps on getting better and his talent is slowly being noticed all over the world. The 7'2" basketball stand-out has made several top US schools eyeing on his talent.

7. Kiefer Ravena

Last Year: 9

Kiefer once more dons the national colors and gave another SEA Games gold for our Men's basketball 5x5 team. This is his 5th gold medal for representing the country as part of the Gilas Pilipinas team.

8. Ave Joshua Retamar

Last Year: N/A

The talented setter makes his debut in the national team and it was a welcome development for the talented youngster. Their team snagged the silver medal at the SEA Games 2019.

9. June Mar Fajardo

Last Year: 2

PBA's 5-time MVP is certainly not stopping. He joined the Gilas Pilipinas team and they once more grabbed the gold medal at the SEA Games 2019. This year he is a strong contender once more for the MVP awards and possibly extend his winning streak to 6 MVP titles.

10. Eumir Marcial

Last Year: N/A

Famous boxer Eumir Marcial once more made the country proud as he won gold at the SEA Games for his third over-all at the biennial games. At the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Ekaterinburg, Russia, Marcial settled for silver in the middleweight category.

11. John Vic De Guzman

Last Year: N/A

Men's Volleyball team captain John Vic made sweet success in 2019 after their team won the silver medal in the recent SEA Games in the Philippines.

12. Aries Toledo

Last Year: 13

Decathlete Aries Toledo reigns supreme once more at the Southeast Asian Games winning gold once more retaining the title he won from the 2017 games.

13. CJ Perez

Last Year: N/A

CJ Perez represented the country at the inaugural 3x3 Men's Basketball tournament at the SEA Games and they won the gold medal. In the PBA, he is a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year award.

14. Manny Pacquiao

Last Year: 4

Boxer-politician Manny Pacquiao, the 41-year old eight-division world champion won over Adrien Boner earlier last year before winning another match dethroning the previously-undefeated Keith Thurman for the WBA (Super) Welterweight World Championship.

15. Roger Casugay

Last Year: N/A

The best story of the SEA Games came at the surfing competitions as Roger Casugay won gold. But his gold paled in comparison to the sportsmanship he showed in helping his Indonesian rival during a surprise accident.

Here are the other Pinoy male athletes that made waves in 2019.