Alex Eala and Bryan Bagunas chosen as SEA Games flag bearers for Team Philippines 

In a year defined by barrier-breaking performances across Philippine sports, two athletes stand at the forefront — a tennis prodigy redefining Asian tennis standards, and a volleyball standout leading the country’s resurgence on the world stage. 

Now, Alex Eala and Bryan Bagunas will take on another honor: carrying the Philippine flag at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino made the announcement, emphasizing that the choice went far beyond popularity.

“Popularity aside, Alex and Bryan have made impacts in the global sports community, and that makes them the best choice to carry the flag in the SEA Games,” he said.

Eala’s 2025 campaign carved out new territory for Philippine tennis. Closing the season ranked World No. 50, she collected wins over multiple top-5 opponents and cemented herself as the highest-ranked Filipina in WTA history. Her rise not only elevated the country’s profile but signaled that Southeast Asian tennis has a new standard-bearer.

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Alas Pilipinas captain Bryan Bagunas and Filipina tennis star Alex Eala have been selected as Team Philippines’ flag bearers for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony in Thailand on December 9. #SEAGames2025 #AlasPilipinas #volleyball pic.twitter.com/IfXWpqDMex

— Volleytrails (@volleytrails) December 2, 2025

Volleyball star Bagunas had an equally transformative year. As captain of the Alas Pilipinas Men’s Team, he spearheaded a pair of historic performances in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship—taking down perennial African powerhouse Egypt and nearly upsetting global top-15 contender Iran. Those displays instantly entered the conversation of the greatest Philippine volleyball achievements ever.

Together, Eala and Bagunas will march at the head of the Philippines’ opening ceremony delegation on December 9 at the Rajamangala National Stadium. They’ll represent more than 1,200 Filipino athletes, embodying both the accomplishments of the past year and the soaring ambitions for the regional meet ahead.

With her world ranking and momentum, Eala enters Thailand as one of the SEA Games’ most closely watched athletes. She and Indonesian world No. 53 Janice Tjen are the two highest-ranked Southeast Asians on the WTA tour, raising expectations for a finals showdown.

The Philippines hasn’t seen a women’s singles tennis gold since Maricris Fernandez in 1999. For many, Eala’s campaign is less a question of potential and more one of destiny.

The Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball squad is already in Taiwan sharpening their system for a historic push. Despite decades of SEA Games dominance by Indonesia and Thailand, the Filipinos now enter with renewed purpose following their World Championship breakthrough.

Notably, the Philippines has never won gold in SEA Games men’s volleyball. Their last medal came in 2019, when they shocked Thailand in the semifinals before settling for silver. Bagunas and company are locked in on changing that narrative. 

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