 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Pakutanga kweHondo yePacific, Maya yakanga yakavakirwa paMako Guard District muPescadores Islands pamwe chete neAtago uye Takao. Atago neTakao zvakatanga kufamba kuti zvipe rutsigiro nokuda kwokubuda kweJapan muhondo yokuchamhembe kwePhilippines. Maya akaramba ari paMako ari muchengeti kusvikira 8 December, apo akafamba sechikamu cheMutevedzeri Admiral Ibō Takahashis IJN 3rd Fleet, pamwe chete nemakwikwi uye kutsigira kuJapan kuVigan uye kuLingayen Gulf. Musi waDecember 31, akapa chifukidziro chechitatu cheMalaya Convoy, uye akabatsira mukutora zvitsuwa zveNatuna. 