List of Filipino American sportspeople explained

This is a list of American sportspeople of Filipino ancestry.

Baseball

• Benny Agbayani  - outfielder
• Chris Aguila  - outfielder
• John André  - pitcher
• Bobby Balcena  - outfielder
• Jason Bartlett  - shortstop
• Bobby Chouinard  - pitcher
• Chase d'Arnaud  - shortstop
• Travis d'Arnaud  - catcher^[1]
• Geno Espineli  - pitcher
• Tim Lincecum  - pitcher^[2]
• Kyle Lohse  - pitcher^[3]
• Clay Rapada  - pitcher
• Addison Russell  - infielder
• Tyler Saladino  - shortstop
• Anthony Volpe  - shortstop
• Brandon Villafuerte  - pitcher
• Jordan Yamamoto  - pitcher^[4]

Basketball

• Jimmy Alapag – former Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters and Gilas Pilipinas guard. Former Head coach of San Miguel Alab Pilipinas of the ASEAN Basketball League.
• Chris Banchero – guard for the Alaska Aces & Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Nic Belasco – 8–time PBA Champion.
• Jason Brickman – guard for the Mono Vampire of the ASEAN Basketball League and for Kaohsiung Aquas of the Taiwanese T1 League. Played college basketball for LIU Brooklyn.^[5]
• Noy Castillo – 3–time PBA All-Star.
• Jeffrey Cariaso – retired professional basketball player and former Alaska Aces shooting guard.
• Jordan Clarkson – guard for the Utah Jazz.^[6] Represented the Philippines in international competition as part of Gilas Pilipinas.
• Mike Cortez – retired guard for the Blackwater Elite, Meralco Bolts, NorthPort Batang Pier & Air21 Express of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Aaron Craft – guard for the Aquila Basket Trento of the Lega Basket Serie A. Played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes and also played for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League.^[7]
• Joe Devance – Retired PBA player; last played for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Michael DiGregorio – guard for the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Jared Dillinger – guard/forward for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Chris Ellis - 3-time PBA All-Star and PBA Slam Dunk Champion (2013).
• Simon Enciso – guard for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association. Played Division II basketball for Notre Dame de Namur.
• Matt Ganuelas-Rosser – forward for the TNT Tropang Giga small forward of the Philippine Basketball Association. Played Division II basketball for Cal Poly Pomona.
• Jalen Green – guard for the Houston Rockets. FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup MVP representing the United States in 2018.
• Davonn Harp – 2-time PBA Commissioner's Cup Champion.
• Brian Heruela – guard for the TNT Tropang Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Ron Harper Jr. - guard/forward for the Toronto Raptors.
• Michael Holper – retired PBA player.
• Isaac Holstein – 3-time PBA Champion.
• Marcio Lassiter – guard for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association. Played college basketball for Cal State Fullerton.
• Chris Lutz – 3-time PBA Champion. PBA All-Star.
• Rashawn McCarthy – guard for the Bacolod City of Smiles of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
• Eric Menk – PBA MVP. Also a two-time member of the Philippine national basketball team.
• Sol Mercado – retired PBA player who played for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Kelly Nabong – forward/center for the Davao Occidental Tigers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
• Chris Newsome – guard for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Gabe Norwood – guard/forward for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketball Association. Played college basketball for the George Mason Patriots and also represented the Philippines in FIBA sanctioned and international competition as part of Gilas Pilipinas.^[8]
• Jason Perkins – forward for the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Hernando Planells – basketball coach.
• Stanley Pringle – guard for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association. Represented the Philippines in international competition as part of Gilas Pilipinas.
• Chris Ross – guard for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Andy Seigle – a two-time member of the Philippine national basketball team.
• Danny Seigle – 8–time PBA Champion. A two-time member of the Philippine national basketball team.
• Greg Slaughter – center for the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
• Erik Spoelstra – head coach of the Miami Heat.
• Raymond Townsend – UCLA Bruins and Golden State Warriors guard^[9]
• Moala Tautuaa – American born with Filipino and Tongan descent. Center/forward for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Josh Urbiztondo – PBA Champion and PBA All–Star.
• Jay Washington – forward for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketball Association and for Ryukyu Golden Kings & Yokohama Excellence of Japan B.League. Played Division II basketball for Eckerd College.
• Kelly Williams – forward/center for the TNT Tropang Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Chess

• Wesley So - chess grandmaster, born Filipino with Chinese descent.

Combat Sports/Martial Arts

• Romie Adanza  - kickboxer
• Manny Pacquiao  - boxer, 12 major world titles in 8 different weight classes
• Chris Cariaso  - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC
• Arianny Celeste  - UFC octagon girl and model
• John Dodson  - Mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC. Ultimate Fighter 14 winner.
• Glenn Donaire  - Nonito Donaire's older brother, also a boxer in the flyweight and junior flyweight classes.
• Nonito Donaire  - Four-Division Boxing World Champion (112 lbs, 118 lbs, 122 lbs and 126 lbs.)
• Adriano Directo Emperado  - one of five martial artists who developed the Kajukenbo self-defense system
• Andrew Ganigan  - former boxing lightweight contender.
• Dan Inosanto  - Head of Bruce Lee's JKD, Head of Lacoste / Inosanto FMA.
• Tito Jones  - mixed martial artist^[10]
• Ana Julaton  - Boxer^{[11] [12]}
• Robbie Lawler  - mixed martial artist, UFC Welterweight Champion. Lawler is a quarter Filipino through his mother's side.^[13]
• Troy Mandaloniz  - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC
• Paige McPherson  - 2012 Summer Olympics Taekwondo bronze medalist^[14]
• Yancy Medeiros  - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC
• Mark Muñoz  - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC
• Phillipe Nover  - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC

• Jesus Salud - 1989 WBA super bantamweight champion
• Ricky Turcios - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC
• Elena Reid - professional boxer and mixed martial artist
• Shane Del Rosario  - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC
• Brandon Vera  - mixed martial artist, fought in the UFC
• Brian Viloria  - US Olympic boxer, former WBC light-flyweight champion
• Ernie Reyes Jr.  - martial artist
• Ernie Reyes, Sr.  - martial artist
• Eddie Abasolo  - professional muay thai fighter

Cycling, Road, BMX, and Track

• Coryn Rivera  - professional USA women's racing cyclist (Team Sunweb)
• Daniel Caluag  - 2012 Summer Olympics BMX Cyclist from Philippines Team

Fencing

• Lee Kiefer  - US olympic fencing team

Figure Skating

• Amanda Evora  - U.S. Olympic figure skater (pairs/ice dancing)^[15]
• Tai Babilonia  - Olympic figure skater (African American mother; Filipino and Hopi-Indian father)
• Christopher Caluza - 2013 Lombardia Trophy silver medalist
• Elizabeth Punsalan  - U.S. Olympic figure skater (pairs/ice dancing) (Filipino father)
• Kristine Musademba  - U.S. figure skater (Filipino mother)

Hockey

• Mathew Dumba - Minnesota Wild defensemen National Hockey League (Filipina mother)
• Jason Robertson (ice hockey) - Dallas Stars left wing National Hockey League (Filipina mother)
• Nicholas Robertson (ice hockey) - Toronto Maple Leafs left wing National Hockey League (Filipina mother)
• Tim Stapleton (ice hockey) - Retired (Filipina mother)

American football

• Tyler Allgeier  - running back for the Atlanta Falcons.
• Eugene Amano  - former NFL offensive guard/center.^[16]
• Doug Baldwin  - former NFL wide receiver who spent his entire career with the Seattle Seahawks.^[17]
• Tedy Bruschi  - former NFL All-Pro linebacker, New England Patriots.^[18]
• Camryn Bynum  - strong safety for the Minnesota Vikings.
• Matt Castelo  - former linebacker, San Jose State Spartans.
• Jordon Dizon  - former NFL linebacker, Detroit Lions.
• Aaron Francisco  - former NFL safety.^[19]
• Roman Gabriel  - former NFL quarterback, Los Angeles Rams.
• Chris Gocong  - former NFL linebacker who split his 6 years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns.
• Keith Ismael  - center for the San Francisco 49ers.
• Josh Jacobs  - running back for the Las Vegas Raiders.
• Jason Myers  - placekicker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.
• Jordan Norwood  - former NFL wide receiver and punt returner, he set a Super Bowl record for the longest punt return at 61 yards while playing for the Denver Broncos who won Super Bowl 50.^[20]
• Chris Rix  - former quarterback, Florida State Seminoles.
• Steve Slaton  - former NFL running back.^[21]
• Curtis Weaver  - XFL defensive end. Formerly played for the Cleveland Browns.
• Andrei Iosivas  - wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Zaire Barnes  - linebacker for the New York Jets
• Nikko Remigio  - wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs
• Anthony Witherstone  - cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs
• Tariq Castro-Fields  - cornerback for the Washington Commanders
• Ronnie Rivers  - Running back for the Los Angeles Rams
• Richard (Chachi) Perez  - Safety for the Stetson University

Golf

• J. J. Spaun  - professional golfer, PGA Tour^[22]
• Rico Hoey  - professional golfer, PGA Tour
• Dorothy Delasin  - professional golfer, LPGA
• Jennifer Rosales  - professional golfer, LPGA
• Allisen Corpuz  - professional golfer, LPGA^[23]

Gymnastics

• Aleah Finnegan  - will represent the Philippines at the 2024 Olympic Games;^[24] former USA national team member.
• Emma Malabuyo  - alternate for the 2020 Olympic team (USA); currently representing the Philippines in international competition.
• Kyla Ross  - member of the Fierce Five, the gold medal-winning US Women's Gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Levi Ruivivar  - will represent the Philippines at the 2024 Olympic Games.
• Ava Verdeflor  - Philippines national team member training in Allen, Texas. 2014 Youth Olympics competitor.

Poker

• Noli Francisco
• Toto Leonidas

Skateboarding

• Henry Gutierrez  - professional vert skateboarder
• Sean Malto  - professional skateboarder
• Pat Ngoho  - professional vert skateboarder/artist
• Lizzie Armanto  - professional vert skateboarder
• Adrian Demain  - professional vert skateboarder/artist^[25]
• Willy Santos  - professional skateboarder^[26]
• Sergie Ventura  - professional vert skateboarder^[27]
• Doug Saladino  - professional vert skateboarder^[28]

Football/Soccer

• Joshua Alcala  - American born Hispanic/Filipino soccer player.^[29] Has played in the United States Soccer Leagues D1 & D2.
• Henry Brauner  - has played in the USL Premier Development League and the Philippines national team.
• Anton del Rosario  - American born. Played NCAA soccer for Skyline College, Notre Dame de Namur University, and Philippine national football team.
• Natasha Kai  - American soccer player and member of the United States women's national soccer team.
• Nick Rimando  - Filipino, Mexican American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.^[30]
• Tiffany Roberts  - American soccer player and former member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team (Filipina mother).^[31]
• 18 of the 23 members of the Philippines national team that reached the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup:^[32]
  • Tahnai Annis  - midfielder and team captain
  • Alicia Barker  - defender
  • Sarina Bolden  - forward
  • Reina Bonta  - defender
  • Ryley Bugay  - midfielder and defender
  • Malea Cesar  - defender
  • Jessika Cowart  - defender and midfielder
  • Kiara Fontanilla  - goalkeeper
  • Isabella Flanigan  - forward
  • Carleigh Frilles  - midfielder
  • Katrina Guillou  - forward
  • Sofia Harrison  - defender
  • Kaiya Jota  - goalkeeper
  • Hali Long  - defender
  • Chandler McDaniel  - forward and midfielder
  • Olivia McDaniel  - goalkeeper
  • Quinley Quezada  - midfielder
  • Dominique Randle  - defender
• Two of the three alternates on the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad:
  • Maya Alcantara  - defender and midfielder
  • Isabella Pasion  - midfielder
• Other Philippines women's national team members:
  • Heather Cooke
  • Eva Madarang
  • Jessica Miclat

Speed Skating

• J.R. Celski  - 2014 Winter Olympics silver medalist & 2010 Winter Olympics bronze medalist for short track speed skating.^[33] and five-time world champion medalist.

Track & Field

• Rene Herrera
• Eric Cray
• Trenten Beram
• Kristina Knott

Table Tennis

• Angelita Rosal  - Four times U.S. National Table Tennis champion.^[34]

Tennis

• Cecil Mamiit
• Treat Conrad Huey
• Lilia Osterloh
• Eric Taino
• Riza Zalameda

Volleyball

• Liz Masakayan  - Professional beach volleyball player.^[35]
• David McKienzie  - member of US national team.
• Iris Tolenada  - played in the Philippine Superliga & Premier Volleyball League.
• Kalei Mau  - played for COCOLIFE Asset Managers & F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the Philippine Superliga & Premier Volleyball League.

Water Sports

• Victoria Manalo Draves  - diver who was the first Asian American gold medalist, and first woman to win two gold medals in springboard diving at the 1948 Olympics in London.
• Sunny Garcia  - surfing world champion, surfing legend.
• Malia Jones  - surfing model, People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
• Natalie Coughlin  - International swimmer and twelve-time Olympic medalist (with Filipino ancestry)
• Nicole Oliva - swimmer
• Henley Masa  - surfing world champion, WSL U.S. Open Champion

Wrestling

• David Bautista  - former professional mixed martial artist, and former professional wrestler best known for his time in the WWE under the ring name Batista. He is a six-time world champion, winning the World Heavyweight Championship four times and the WWE Championship twice.^[36]
• Michael Paris  - better known as DJZ for his time with TNA Wrestling. Currently signed with WWE where he performs on Raw brand under the ring name Joaquin Wilde.
• Benny Cuntapay  - also known by his ring alias B-Boy. Performer in CZW or Combat Zone Wrestling, also wrestled as Bael in Lucha Underground but was killed off in a storyline angle.
• T. J. Perkins  - best known as the Inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion.^[37] Performed in WWE's Raw brand under the name TJ Perkins.^[38] Also a former wrestler for TNA Wrestling formerly known as Suicide. Perkins is also known by his ring aliases Pinoy Boy and Puma.
• Kris Hernandez  - better known by the ring name Kris Wolf^[39]
• Ashley Louise Urbanski  - currently signed with WWE where she performs on NXT under the ring name, Shotzi Blackheart.^[40]
• Allyssa Lyn "Lacey" Lane  - currently signed to WWE here she performs on Raw under the ring name Kayden Carter.^[41]
• Jeff Cobb  - better known for his time with NJPW, Ring of Honor, and All Elite Wrestling. Currently signed with NJPW where he belongs with the United Empire Faction. Cobb was formerly Never Openweight Champion, ROH tag team Champion, and PWG World Champion.

Notes and References

1. MarcCarig. Marc Carig. 369219579366498304. 18 August 2013. Travis d'Arnaud, part Filipino, now catching a pitcher named Rice. God, I love my job..
2. Jun Medina, Fil-Am major league pitcher wins baseball's top award (November 16, 2008), Manila Times.
3. News: Nickel . Lori . 25 April 2013 . Brewers' Lohse another product of Chico . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . 15 October 2014 . But for Lohse, that's not the whole story. There's a whole other community pulling for him because he is one of just a handful of Native Americans to be playing major-league baseball. His mother is half Filipino and half Native American; the Lohses are members of the Nomlaki tribe..
4. News: Lacques. Gabe. Part of the Christian Yelich trade, Marlins rookie Jordan Yamamoto inspires hope in Miami. 1 February 2021. USA TODAY. July 5, 2019.
5. Web site: Top Fil-Am Jason Brickman headed for Russia as bid to play for Gilas fails to pan out .
6. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/06/27/14/new-nba-draft-pick-clarkson-proud-his-filipino-roots New NBA Draft
7. Web site: Craft confirms Pinoy lineage. .
8. Web site: Norwood given green light to join PBA draft │ GMA News Online. 29 August 2008.
9. http://alumni.ucla.edu/share/alumni-stories/stories/raymond-townsend.aspx Alumni stories. Raymond Townsend
10. Web site: What All 10 SHOWTIME Fighters Had To Say. https://web.archive.org/web/20090519072920/http://sherdog.com/news/press%20releases/What-All-10-SHOWTIME-Fighters-Had-To-Say-17472. live. 19 May 2009.
11. Lauren Smiley. "The Eyes of the Hurricane". SF Weekly. March 10, 2010.
12. http://www.mightygloves.com/2009/11/ana_julaton_her_side_of_the_ri.html "Ana Julaton: Her Side of the Ring".
13. Web site: Robbie Lawler: I'd knock out GSP if he comes back to the UFC . MMA Digest. 11 March 2016.
14. News: New. Brent W.. McPherson enjoying her rise in taekwondo. October 27, 2014. The Gazette. January 14, 2013. October 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141027090117/http://gazette.com/mcpherson-enjoying-her-rise-in-taekwondo/article/149680. dead.
15. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100412&content_id=9243626&vkey=ice_pressrelease Press release
16. Web site: Eugene Amano Makes First Return Trip to Philippines, Receives Warm Welcome. www.tennesseetitans.com. 12 March 2024.
17. DougBaldwinJr. Doug Baldwin Jr. 272825451280494592. 25 November 2012. @FilAmDevil yes I am!.
18. News: NFL Hero is FilAm. The Asian Journal Blog . 11 February 2008.
19. Web site: Pinoys in the NFL. https://web.archive.org/web/20101213211754/http://asianjournal.com/galing-pinoy/59-galing-pinoy/3204-pinoys-in-the-nfl.html. dead. 13 December 2010.
20. Web site: FilamStar - FilamStar.
21. Web site: Lubbock Online . October 20, 2013 . October 28, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131028233106/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/081109/spo_480452127.shtml . dead .
22. Web site: J.J. Spaun Bio : PGA TOUR Media Guide .
23. Web site: Allisen Corpuz Parents: Marcos and May Corpuz- Boyfriend . 9 July 2023 .
24. Web site: Opportunity knocked, Aleah Finnegan answered. October 27, 2023. International Olympic Committee.
25. The Answer is Never: A Skateboarder's History of the World
26. [:sco:Willy Santos|Willy Santos]
27. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Filipino SERGIE VENTURA Professional Skateboard Va Beach Va . YouTube.
28. News: Skateboarding pioneer Doug Saladino talks raising kids and baseball pro nephew . Men's Journal . 5 December 2019 .
29. Web site: 2007/08 Squad Profiles - Palace USA . CPFC.co.uk . 23 May 2008 . 24 July 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120905143231/http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/CPFCUSA/0%2C%2C10323~1119438%2C00.html . 5 September 2012 .
30. News: Fil-Am thwarts Beckham's goal . . Joaquin Henson . 1 December 2009 . 24 July 2010 . https://archive.today/20120525163901/http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleid=528375&publicationsubcategoryid=69 . 2012-05-25 . dead .
31. Web site: Embassy of the United States in Manila . 2011-06-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527113604/http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhs174.html . 2010-05-27 .
32. Web site: The making of America's other Women's World Cup team: The Philippines . Henry . Bushnell . Yahoo Sports . July 20, 2023 . July 25, 2023.
33. Web site: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Olympic Games Photos, Videos, & News . 2011-06-22 . 2010-04-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100408201829/http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-short-track-speed-skating/schedule-and-results/mens-1500-m-finals_stm015100DK.html . dead .
34. Book: Liverti, Rita M.. Angelitta ROSAL BENGTSSON. C. Richard. King. Native Americans in Sports. London. Routledge. 2004. 0-76568-054-8. 262. registration. https://archive.org/details/nativeamericansi01king/page/262.
35. Smith . Shelley . Liz Masakayan And Karolyn Kirby . Sports Illustrated . 5 July . 78 . 18 October 2009 . 1993-07-05 . and
    Web site: Filipino American History . Cynful Productions . . 29 January 1998 . 18 October 2009 . 12 October 1999 . https://web.archive.org/web/19991012012919/http://www.csuchico.edu/ncpaso/filipino.htm . dead . and
    Web site: Ronald S. Buenaventura . Our History is No Mystery . epilipinas.com . San Diego Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society . 31 May 1996 . 18 October 2009 .
36. Web site: Former WWE wrestler Batista proud of his Pinoy blood. filipinotimes.net. 6 May 2018. June 9, 2020.
37. Web site: Fil-Am TJ Perkins wins WWE Cruiserweight Classic, becomes division's new champ. 15 September 2016.
38. WWE
39. Web site: http://wwr-stardom.com/?stars=kris . ja:クリス・ウルフ . August 22, 2014 . July 26, 2017 . . ja.
40. Web site: 411MANIA. WWE News: Shotzi Blackheart Uses a Mini-Tank on NXT, The Rise of Becky Lynch on Playlist, Braun Strowman Rants About Classic Willy Wonka Movie. en-US. 2020-02-02.
41. Web site: Keith Lee, Io Shirai headline new class of WWE PC recruits. WWE. en. 2020-03-02.