I don't think it's comparable to sports. Even despite the tradition, history and culture. I would say, as strange as it may sound, that it's a traditional form of gambling or something like a huge nationwide lottery. That's probably why the defining feature is non-stop sabong action, because it happens everywhere and all the time. Football and sports in general are more popular because of mass media. Think of cricket. It's also a sport, but there's less promotion, and it's not as popular. Sabong also remained a local tradition that never reached the global level.