As the calendar turns to 2024, it's time to bring out our crystal ball and see what's in store for Philippine sports this year.
Compared to 2023 -- when there was the FIBA World Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup, Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games -- 2024's list of events isn't as stacked, but there are still some local tournaments, athletes and teams worth keeping an eye on.
Here are five bold predictions for Philippine sports in 2024:
Philippines will once again win multiple medals at the Olympics
The last Olympic Games in Tokyo was a seminal moment in Philippine sports history.
Hidilyn Diaz won the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal, while three boxers also clinched podium finishes to secure a four-medal haul. That was the highest count in the history of the Philippines' participation at the Games.
There's reason to believe that the country can once again bag more than one medal in Paris, perhaps even a second gold.
So far, four Filipino athletes have punched their ticket to the 2024 Olympics, and three of them have a good shot at a medal.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, ranked second in the world, arguably has the biggest chance of a podium finish. Boxer Eumir Marcial, who won bronze in Tokyo and is coming off a disputed silver medal finish at the Asian Games, also looms as a legitimate threat to medal. Ditto with gymnast Carlos Yulo, who finished fourth in the floor exercise event in last year's World Championships.
Other boxers are expected to join Marcial through qualifying tournaments later this year, and as displayed in 2021, any of them could also bag a medal.
The Azkals will score a big win against a rated opponent
The Azkals' 2023 campaign wasn't exactly stellar, although it did have its moments.
More importantly, there's now some stability at the helm with the reappointment of Michael Weiss as coach last June.
Under Weiss last year, the Azkals went 3-3-2, including a loss and a draw in the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in November.
Now that he's had the benefit of a full six months back at the helm, and he's made clear to the players that their level of fitness was unacceptable, expect the Azkals to be more competitive in their remaining World Cup qualifiers, as well as the year-ending AFF Championship.
Weiss has a young, talented pool at his disposal. With more time together it's wouldn't be a total shock if they pull off a big win in the coming months -- with the likes of Iraq, Vietnam and Indonesia all lying in wait.
Someone other than June Mar Fajardo will win MVP
This is certainly a big statement, considering Fajardo is the reigning Most Valuable Player and he's won the award a record seven times.
But current conditions in the PBA might be ripe for the rise of a new MVP contender.
Fajardo has already missed more than half of San Miguel Beermen's games so far in the ongoing 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup and, if things don't break their way, they could find themselves facing Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals.
If they get an early exit from this conference, that would hamper Fajardo's MVP bid and leave him with just the Philippine Cup to make up for lost ground.
If this happens, there are a select group of players who could benefit and seize the statistical points lead, chief among which is Ginebra's Christian Standhardinger.
It's not totally unrealistic for the Kings to make another title run even without Justin Brownlee, in which case 'C-Stan' will load up on even more statistical points. Should Ginebra also advance deep into the playoffs next conference, then Standhardinger could presumably increase his lead.
Alex Eala will crack the world's top 150
At just 18, Eala's career trajectory is still heading upwards.
Having entered 2024 at a career-high ranking of 189, she's poised to move up further in the rankings if she can finally break through and qualify for the main draw of at least one of the four Grand Slams and pick up a few more ITF titles.
Eala just needs to be more consistent and rack up more tour wins, which will lead to more ranking points, which in turn will lead to more invitations to more prestigious tournaments, which give out higher ranking points.
Once Eala firmly injects herself into this cycle, her ranking will inevitably continue to rise.
No Filipino female tennis player has ever cracked the top 150 of the WTA rankings. Eala could be the first.
Dave Apolinario and Carl Jammes Martin will vie for (and possibly win) world titles
Let's face it: Philippine boxing's golden age has ended.
Manny Pacquiao has retired, Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire are no longer champions and are on the back end of their careers and, as of today, no Filipino is listed as a champion in any weight class among the four governing world bodies.
There are several former champions and veterans lined up for title cracks sometime this year, and some of them might succeed.
But when it comes to the young blood coming up the ranks, the two most exciting Filipino prospects are undefeated phenoms Dave Apolinario and Carl Jammes Martin, who both made it to ESPN's list of 25 best boxers under the age of 25.
Apolinario (19-0, 13 KOs), who turns 25 later this month, is ranked second by the World Boxing Association and third by the International Boxing Federation in the flyweight division and should get a title crack soon.
Martin (23-0, 18 KOs), 24, has fought exclusively in the Philippines and is primed to take his act overseas this year. He's ranked fourth by the IBF and eighth by the World Boxing Organization in the 122-lb division, and his promoter has big things lined up for him this year.