The Philippine curling team became the first team to go undefeated in a thrilling competition at the Pan-Continental Curling Championships in Canada when they defeated Kazakhstan in the final to take first place in the B class. This historic triumph allows the team to move up to the A-Division and brings them one step closer to their objective of participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Throughout the twelve intense games, the team, which consisted of Alan Frei (lead), Christian Haller (vice), Enrico Pfister (second), and Marc Pfister (skip), showed incredible strength and perseverance. The team's triumphs in the preliminary round over tough opponents like Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Puerto Rico already demonstrated their good teamwork, but there were some challenges on the path to the championship game. When they played Hong Kong in the semi-final, the team's strong nerves and unity were evident. They trounced Kazakhstan, a team they had previously defeated by a narrow score, with confidence on Saturday afternoon in the final.
Team skip Marc Pfister emphasizes: “This promotion to the A Division is an incredible achievement and the result of tireless work. We have grown as a team and proven that we can deliver under pressure. Now we are looking forward to the next challenge, playing against the best teams in the world and tackling the qualification for the Olympics.”
“This is incredible, I'm overwhelmed by what we've achieved here!” says Alan Frei. “This last year has been an intense learning process for all of us – from the first time on the ice to this decisive moment here at the Pan Continentals. Today, all the training, passion and determination paid off. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming Olympic qualifiers!”
The next step: qualifying tournaments for Milano Cortina 2026
With their promotion to the A Division, Team Philippines will now face the best curling teams in the world. This new challenge opens up the possibility of qualifying for the 2025 Olympics in two (pre-)qualifying tournaments – a goal that is now within reach.
Team vice-captain Christian Haller said: “This success is proof of what can be achieved when you work as a team and aim for the impossible. The Philippines are united behind us – and we've also received an incredible amount of support from Switzerland – and that's a huge motivation for us as we face the next challenges!”
With their unique blend of Swiss precision and Filipino passion, the Philippines team has established itself as a true underdog in the curling scene, comparable to iconic sports stories such as the Jamaican bobsled team and 'Eddie the Eagle'.
About the team
- Christian Haller (Vice): With 26 years of curling experience, Haller brings the technical know-how to the team.
- Enrico Pfister (Second): Supports the team with his many years of experience at the international level.
- Marc Pfister (Skip): The experienced curler and Enrico's brother leads the team with strategic skill.
- Alan Frei (Lead): The entrepreneur, who underwent a complete transformation, is the heart of the team with his story “From obese to Olympics”.
Next tournaments
- February 7-14, 2025: Asian Winter Games, Harbin, China
- October 17-24, 2025: Pre-Qualifier (location tba)
- November 2-9, 2025: Pan Continental Curling Championship (World Cup qualifier)
- December 6-20, 2025: Olympic Qualifier (location tba)
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