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MANILA — Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will lead Team Philippines in Netflix’s "Physical: Asia," the franchise’s first-ever nation-versus-nation edition.
Pacquiao heads a six-person squad that brings together some of the country’s top athletes: Fil-Am sambo competitor Mark Mugen, strongman Ray Jefferson Querubin, national rugby player Justin Coveney, national hurdler Robyn Lauren Brown, and CrossFit athlete Lara Liwanag.
The series will feature 48 contestants from eight countries — Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines — competing in challenges that test strength, skill, and teamwork.
Each six-person squad is anchored by a national superstar, with Pacquiao’s eight-division boxing legacy serving as inspiration for Team Philippines.
The other team captains are: UFC trailblazer Dong-hyun “Stun Gun” Kim leads Korea, former UFC middleweight champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker heads Australia, MMA veteran Yushin Okami represents Japan, Muay Thai world champion Superbon leads Thailand, traditional wrestling star Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan anchors Mongolia, four-time oil wrestling champion Recep Kara heads Türkiye, and physique powerhouse Igedz “Executioner” represents Indonesia.
"Physical: Asia" combines elite athleticism with cultural traditions, spotlighting combat sports, ball games, track and field, and heritage competitions such as Korean ssireum, Mongolian wrestling, Turkish oil wrestling, and Muay Thai.
Following acclaimed spin-offs in the US and Italy, this edition emphasizes national pride alongside individual skill.
Producer Jang Ho-gi said, “At its heart, the 'Physical' series is about raw competition that transcends disciplines and generations. By bringing national pride into the equation, the battles will be more intense, more emotional, and more unforgettable than ever.”
"Physical: Asia" premieres this October, streaming globally on Netflix.