By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Former athletes and sportsmen who found their way into politics got mixed results in the 2025 Philippine midterm elections – some were very happy, but some were unlucky.
Three years after aspiring to become the country’s president, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao appeared headed to another painful defeat if the trending continues.
Since only 12 is needed in the Senate, Pacquiao needs a “last round” miracle if he is to retain his seat following the unofficial tally of the 80 percent of election returns as of 12 noon on Tuesday, May 13.
Pacquiao, an eight-division champion, is at 18th place so far with 8,405,596 votes — trailing current 12th-running Imee Marcos by a little more than 2 million votes.
But former national bowler Tito Sotto looked cinch to get back in the Senate as he landed at 8th place with 11,930, 352 million votes at presstime.
Former Gintong Alay director Michael Keon is trailing James Bryan Alcid by 2,000 votes in a tight race for the mayoral post for Laoag City, while former national boxing association president Manny Lopez is far third for the congressional seat in the First District of Manila.
Former La Salle player Francis Zamora, meanwhile, wins his third term as San Juan City mayor against PBA Hall of Famer Philip Cezar. Former PBA and national team player James Yap also made it the First District of San Juan City for the second time and so is PH basketball team member Don Allado in the Second District of San Juan City.
Dodot Jaworski, another former basketball player, for his part, has been proclaimed vice mayor of Pasig City via landslide victory, while Olympian taekwondo jin Monsour Del Rosario lost his bid for Makati City Vice Mayor.
Former basketball player Vergel Meneses is also poised for another term as Bulacan Mayor and so is actor-sportsman Richard Gomez as Congressman in the Fourth District of Leyte.
Former PBA player Dondon Hontiveros, however, trails in the race for the vice mayoral seat in Cebu City.
Former Philippine Sports Commission chairman and Olympian Eric Buhain was unsuccessful in his extension bid as congressman in the First District of Batangas.
