ESPN ranked the 25 Asian athletes whose stellar careers have transcended their respective sports.
Three Filipinos made it to ESPN’s Top 25 Asian Athletes list.
Among them was boxing great Manny Pacquiao, who topped the list that also included former NBA star Yao Ming of China, LA Dodgers prized pitcher Shohei Ohtani from Japan, and South Korean golfer Inbee Park.
Pacquiao’s place atop the heap was a no-brainer after a sensational career that saw him become the only eight-division champion of the world. He was also named Ring Magazine’s Fighter of the Year multiple times (2006, 2008, and 2009).
Though his decorated boxing journey included losses to the flamboyant Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez, the Pacman is still considered one of the best — or the best, if you ask American analyst Max Kellerman.
[ALSO READ: No Pacman in Paris: Manny Pacquiao is overaged to compete in Olympics]
Meanwhile, Hidilyn Diaz also cracked the rankings at no. 19.
A Rio Olympics silver medalist in 2016, Diaz gifted the country its first-ever Olympic gold medal in weightlifting come the Games in Tokyo four years later.
The bemedalled Filipina Olympian also uses her platform to continue inspiring the next generation of weightlifters as well as speaking up about pressing social issues.
[ALSO READ: Hidilyn Diaz shares struggles, joy in continuing to influence others with new weightlifting gym]
At 25 is San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo, whose collection of accolades regularly throw his name into the PBA’s GOAT debate.
It’s easy to understand why after 10 championships (and counting), seven Most Valauble Player awards (and counting), and 10 Best Player of the Conference recognitions (and counting), to name a few.
[ALSO READ: San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo on track for 8th PBA Most Valuable Player award]