Just a few days after the Philippines captured its largest medal haul in the Asian Games in 64 years, Filipino athletes continue to leave a mark on the international stage.
Photo: Philippine Lacrose Association/Instagram
The Philippine men’s and women’s national lacrosse teams recently qualified for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships in Colorado, USA.
Their qualification for the world sixes championship is historic for both teams, as it will mark their debut in the tournament.
The Philippine women’s national lacrosse team, currently ranked no. 10 in the world, booked their tickets to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships following a standout campaign at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships held in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, the Philippine men’s national lacrosse team earned their spot on the world stage by defeating Asian powerhouse South Korea during the semifinals of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships, where they also secured their first-ever silver medal in a regional tournament.
The national teams’ qualification provides a significant boost to the country’s bid for a spot in the Los Angeles (LA) Olympics, as the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships serve as a primary global qualifier for the 2028 Games.
View this post on Instagram
Lacrosse—last featured at the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1948 and as an official medal sport in 1908—will return to the Summer Olympics alongside baseball, softball, and cricket, while squash and flag football will make their official Olympic debut in LA.
How lacrosse sixes is played
Lacrosse Sixes is a fast-paced, 6-on-6 version of lacrosse that blends traditional field lacrosse and indoor box lacrosse.
View this post on Instagram
Think of Lacrosse Sixes as a combination of football, basketball, and hockey. The goal is simple: shoot the ball into the net, as in football.
However, unlike football, the ball is neither kicked nor rolled on the ground. Instead, players hold long-handled sticks—similar to hockey—equipped with a netted head used to catch, carry, pass, and shoot a rubber ball.
Each team has a 12-player roster, but only six players (5 outfielders and 1 goalkeeper) are on the field at a time, with the remaining six serving as substitutes.
View this post on Instagram
Lacrosse Sixes features non-stop action. When a team scores, there is no timeout or ceremonial restart: the goalkeeper immediately retrieves the ball from the net and plays it back into action. If an attacking shot misses the goal and goes out of bounds, possession automatically flips to the opposing team.
Just like in basketball, teams are on a tight timer to attempt a shot, having only a 30-second shot clock per possession.
View this post on Instagram
Matches are divided into four 8-minute quarters. The team with the most goals at the end of regulation claims victory.
Although lacrosse previously appeared in early Olympic editions (1904 and 1908), the 2028 Games will mark its official return to the Olympic stage in the modern Sixes format.
ALSO READ: Agila Pilipinas to Represent the PH at the SEA Flag Football Championship—and Needs Your Help
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com’s Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com community at WIM Squad, and join our Viber group to stay updated with the latest around the Philippines and beyond!
