Philippines Sends Record-Breaking Team to 2025 SEA Games

Nearly 1,600 Filipino athletes and officials are set to represent the country at the 33rd SEA Games, which opened Tuesday at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium.

This is the largest national team ever sent by the Philippines to the SEA Games, and the country hopes to benefit from the additional talent. The 2025 national team includes Olympic veterans, rising stars, and grassroots talents, pairing together experience and youth development.

Building on hopes for a strong performance, POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the target is to equal the 58 golds, 86 silvers, and 116 bronzes won in Cambodia in 2023, which secured a fifth-place finish for the Philippines. “The goal is to match the output in Cambodia,” Tolentino told reporters, while cautioning that combat sports may tilt in Thailand’s favor as the host nation seeks dominance.

Challenges and Adjustments

Meanwhile, the Games themselves pose challenges to all participants. Featuring 12,506 athletes from 11 nations across 574 events, they were consolidated into Bangkok and Chonburi after flooding in Songkhla forced venue changes. Filipino athletes face further hurdles, including the exclusion of cue sports and restrictions on gymnastics that sidelined Olympic champion Carlos Yulo.

Despite these setbacks, officials remain optimistic. Building on this positivity, Tolentino emphasized decisive wins in combat sports, urging athletes to aim for knockouts or submissions to counter potential judging biases.

Online Betting Options

As the Games unfold, interest often extends beyond the arenas for die-hard followers. Filipino bettors can closely track performances online and place wagers with legal online sportsbooks that host odds for the games. However, even with a slew of both online and in-person sports betting options, odds can be scarce.

For most Olympic-style games, money lines (win) and futures are available. However, for team sports like Esports, Rugby, and Volleyball, you can also find spreads and totals. In the past, we have seen the most SEA Games betting lines on BetOnline; eSports odds, soccer, and boxing lines are relatively common.

List Of 2025 SEA Games

Looking ahead, the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand will feature 50 official sports across 574 events. Here’s the full list of sports being contested: