CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — As the 20th Asian Games open in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the Philippines is sending hundreds of athletes to compete on Asia's biggest sporting stage.
For Mindanao, the Games are another opportunity to see athletes with roots across the island compete internationally — from Olympic medalists and world champions to young weightlifters, rising volleyball players, tennis veterans and surfers from Siargao.
At least 25 athletes and sports stars from Mindanao are connected to the Philippine campaign and the wider 2026 Asian Games cycle.
Their hometowns stretch from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental to Davao, Zamboanga, Agusan, South Cotabato, Tawi-Tawi and Surigao del Norte.
Here are the Mindanao names to watch.
Combat Sports and Weightlifting
1. Carlo Paalam — Boxing
Cagayan de Oro City / Bukidnon
Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam remains one of Mindanao's biggest names in Philippine boxing.
In May, Paalam captured gold at the 2026 Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands, defeating England's Abdul-Rahman Burton in the men's 55-kilogram final.
The Cagayan de Oro boxing pride continues to carry the hopes of Northern Mindanao on the international stage.
2. Nesthy Petecio — Boxing
Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur
Davao del Sur-born Nesthy Petecio brings championship experience to the Philippine boxing team.
The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist and Paris 2024 bronze medalist remains one of the country's most accomplished female boxers and one of Mindanao's most recognizable athletes.
3. Eumir Marcial — Boxing
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City’s Eumir Marcial is another major Mindanao name associated with the Philippine Asian Games campaign.
The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist and Hangzhou Asian Games silver medalist was initially listed for Aichi-Nagoya.
However, his professional fight scheduled for Sept. 19 created a conflict with the Asian Games boxing schedule. Later reports indicated that Marcial's slot was being taken over by fellow professional boxer Weljon Mindoro.
For publication, Marcial should therefore be described as an initially listed athlete, rather than a confirmed Aichi-Nagoya competitor.
4. Junmilardo Ogayre — Boxing
Davao City
Davao City's Junmilardo Ogayre is part of the Philippines' boxing contingent for Aichi-Nagoya.
The rising boxer joins a team that includes fellow Mindanao natives Paalam and Petecio as the Philippines seeks another strong showing in the sport.
5. Albert Ian Delos Santos — Weightlifting
Zamboanga City
Albert Ian Delos Santos has emerged as one of Philippine weightlifting's brightest young lifters.
In August, the Zamboanga City pride won three gold medals at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
He lifted 141 kilograms in the snatch and 180 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a 321-kilogram total in the junior men's 70-kilogram division. He also set new junior Asian and world records in the clean and jerk and total.
6. Rosegie Ramos — Weightlifting
Zamboanga City
Rosegie Ramos is part of a new generation of Zamboanga weightlifters carrying the legacy of the city's strong weightlifting program.
The Ramos name has become closely associated with Philippine weightlifting, with Rosegie continuing to compete internationally while preparing for the Asian Games stage.
7. Kristel Macrohon — Weightlifting
Zamboanga City
Kristel Macrohon adds experience to the Philippine weightlifting lineup.
The Zamboanga City lifter is set to compete in the women's 69-kilogram category, giving Mindanao another representative in one of the Philippines' most decorated Asian Games sports.
8. Jhodie Peralta — Weightlifting
Zamboanga City
One of Philippine weightlifting's young rising stars, Jhodie Peralta enters the Asian Games cycle after a major international medal haul.
At the 2026 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Peralta won three gold medals and two silver medals across the Youth and Junior women's 53-kilogram divisions.
She ruled the Youth snatch with an 86-kilogram lift, took silver in the clean and jerk with 102 kilograms and posted a 188-kilogram total. She also won junior snatch gold and junior total silver.
The performance further established the Zamboanga City lifter as one of Philippine weightlifting's young prospects.
9. Chino Sy Tancontian — Judo
Davao City
Davao City's Chino Sy Tancontian represents Mindanao in judo.
A member of the Philippine national team, Tancontian brings international experience to the country's Aichi-Nagoya campaign.
10. Jenifer Kilapio — Wushu
Davao City
Davao City's Jenifer Kilapio is among Mindanao's representatives in wushu.
Her inclusion adds another Mindanao name to the Philippine combat-sports contingent heading into the Games.
Track, Beach and Indoor Sports
11. Janry Ubas — Athletics
Villanueva, Misamis Oriental
Janry Ubas continues to dominate the Philippine men's long jump.
In June, Ubas won his seventh consecutive Philippine men's long-jump title at the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships, producing a season-best 7.61 meters.
The Misamis Oriental native has also cleared 8 meters in his career and remains one of the Philippines' leading horizontal jumpers.
12. Sonny Wagdos — Athletics
Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
Agusan del Sur's Sonny Wagdos enters the Asian Games after a productive Philippine athletics season.
At the 2026 ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships, Wagdos won the men's 10-kilometer and 20-kilometer events.
He also placed second in the 5,000 meters at the same meet, highlighting his versatility as a distance runner.
13. Artjoy Torregosa — Athletics
Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
Artjoy Torregosa represents Agusan del Sur in Philippine athletics.
The Esperanza native is part of the country's track-and-field delegation for the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
14. Alnakran "Ranran" Abdilla — Beach Volleyball
Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
Tawi-Tawi's Alnakran "Ranran" Abdilla continues to make his mark in Philippine beach volleyball.
Abdilla and partner Raniel Rosales reached the main draw of the 2026 Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge and finished ninth at the 2026 AVC Beach Tour Raja Ampat Open in Indonesia.
He also represented the Philippines at the 2025 SEA Games, where he and James Buytrago finished fifth in men's beach volleyball.
15. Josh Ybañez — Indoor Volleyball
Davao City
Davao City's Josh Ybañez has become one of the Philippines' most recognizable young volleyball players.
Ybañez won his second consecutive Best Libero award in the 2026 SEA V League, helping Alas Pilipinas Men finish fifth in the first leg.
His defensive play has made him a key figure in the continuing development of Philippine men's volleyball.
Football, Surfing and Baseball
16. Kamil Jaser Amirul — Football
Davao City
Davao City-born Kamil Jaser Amirul is part of the Philippines' young football generation.
The midfielder has represented the Philippines at the youth international level and played for Malaysia's Penang FC in 2026.
His development overseas adds another Mindanao connection to the Philippine men's football program.
17. Dionesa "Inday" Tolentin — Women's Football
Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte
Dionesa "Inday" Tolentin brings a strong Mindanao connection to the Philippine women's football program.
Born in Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte, Tolentin has represented the Philippines in both football and futsal and has been part of Kaya FC's women's program.
She is among the players helping strengthen the depth of Philippine women's football.
18. Jayuard Alciso — Surfing
Siargao, Surigao del Norte
Siargao surfer Jayuard Alciso is one of the Philippines' leading shortboard competitors.
In the latest United Philippine Surfing Association rankings available before the Games, Alciso was ranked No. 2 in the men's open shortboard division.
The Siargao native will represent one of Mindanao's strongest surfing communities on the international stage.
19. Toby Espejon — Surfing
Siargao, Surigao del Norte
Another Siargao standout, Toby Espejon enters the Asian Games as one of the country's top-ranked surfers.
Espejon was ranked No. 1 in the men's open shortboard division in the latest UPSA rankings.
His presence gives Siargao a pair of elite surfers on the Philippine team.
20. Nilbie Blancada — Surfing
General Luna, Siargao, Surigao del Norte
General Luna native Nilbie Blancada adds another Siargao name to the Philippine surfing contingent.
As surfing makes its Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, Blancada represents a community that has become synonymous with Philippine surfing.
21. Juralyn Española — Surfing
Pilar, Siargao, Surigao del Norte
Pilar, Siargao's Juralyn Española completes a strong Mindanao presence in the Philippine surfing team.
Her inclusion underscores the depth of talent emerging from Siargao's surfing communities.
22. James Vincent Nisnisan — Baseball
Davao City
Davao City pitcher James Vincent Nisnisan is part of the Philippine baseball program.
Nisnisan previously helped the national baseball team reach the SEA Games final and returns to the international stage as the Philippines competes in Aichi-Nagoya.
23. Raymond Nerosa — Baseball
Tupi, South Cotabato
South Cotabato is represented in the Philippine baseball lineup by Tupi native Raymond Nerosa.
Nerosa is part of the current Philippine baseball roster for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, giving the province a representative in the national team.
Tennis and Cue Sports
24. Francis Casey "Niño" Alcantara — Tennis
Cagayan de Oro City
Cagayan de Oro's Francis Casey "Niño" Alcantara enters the Asian Games period with fresh momentum on the international tennis circuit.
Just days before the Games, Alcantara teamed up with Thailand's Pawit Sornlaksup to win the ITF M15 Nonthaburi men's doubles title.
The Filipino-Thai pair defeated India's Maan Kesharwani and Manish Sureshkumar, 7-6(4), 5-7, 10-8, in the final.
The victory added another international doubles title to Alcantara's résumé.
Earlier in the year, Alcantara partnered with Christopher Papa to win the men's doubles title at the Palawan Open, defeating Eric Jed Olivarez and Nilo Ledama in the final.
He also remained a key veteran presence for the Philippine Davis Cup team in July. Partnering with Ruben Gonzales, Alcantara delivered the decisive doubles victory over Malaysia that helped the Philippines retain its place in the Asia/Oceania Group III.
A former Australian Open junior doubles champion, Alcantara has represented the Philippines at the SEA Games, Asian Games and Grand Slam events.
25. Chezka Centeno — Billiards
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City's Chezka "The Flash" Centeno enters the 2026 sports cycle as one of the Philippines' biggest names in women's billiards.
In July, Centeno captured the 2026 WPA Women's World 8-Ball Championship in Green Bay, Wisconsin, defeating Great Britain's Kelly Fisher, 9-6, in the final.
The victory gave Centeno her first world 8-ball crown and added another major title to her collection.
Just 11 days later, she reached the final of the 2026 WPA Women's World 10-Ball Championship in Rome, Italy. Centeno, the defending champion, finished runner-up to Belarus' Margarita Fefilova Styer.
The back-to-back world championship campaigns made Centeno one of the Philippines' standout international sports stories of the summer.
Editor's note: Centeno is included here as a major Mindanao sports star in the 2026 Asian Games cycle. Her participation in Aichi-Nagoya should be confirmed against the final Philippine entry list before publication.
A Story Rooted at Home
From Olympic medalists and world champions to young athletes making their mark internationally, Mindanao continues to produce athletes capable of competing on the biggest stages.
Their hometowns are scattered across the island — from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental to Davao, Zamboanga, Agusan, South Cotabato, Tawi-Tawi and Siargao.
Some are confirmed members of Philippine teams, while others were initially listed or are closely associated with the country's Asian Games campaign.
But regardless of the sport, their stories share a common thread: they began in Mindanao and carried the experience, support and pride of their communities onto the international stage.
For Mindanao fans, Aichi-Nagoya is another chance to follow athletes who have spent years turning local talent into international achievement.
