Alola gave Ash Ketchum his first official regional Pokémon League championship.
Ash won the first Alola League in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Legends. In the final, he defeated Gladion, becoming the first Champion of the Alola League. The victory marked Ash’s first regional League Conference championship after many earlier attempts.
The Alola League differed from several earlier competitions because it was the first official Pokémon League established in the Alola region. Its tournament was held at Manalo Stadium, and Ash’s final match against Gladion concluded with their Lycanroc battling for the title.
This achievement is separate from Ash’s later World Coronation Series victory over Leon. The Alola win made him a regional champion; the later World Championship established him as the world’s top-ranked Trainer within the anime’s story.