On January 29, the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel will bring together outstanding individuals from various fields, celebrating their remarkable achievements in 2023.
The event, presented by ArenaPlus and sponsored by major entities such as the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, PLDT/SMART, Cignal TV, and MILO, is a testament to the nation’s sports excellence.
Among the distinguished awardees are basketball star June Mar Fajardo and football standout Sarina Bolden, who have been named Mr. Basketball and Ms. Football, respectively.
Fajardo, a 6-foot-10 center, had a stellar year both internationally and locally, contributing significantly to the Philippine teams’ success in the Southeast Asian Games, FIBA World Cup, and the historic gold medal win at the Asian Games.
Meanwhile, Bolden, the face of women’s Philippine football, made history by scoring the winning goal in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The National Sports Associations (NSAs) of the Year award will be presented to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of the Philippines (JJFP).
The SBP played a pivotal role in the successful co-hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and Gilas Pilipinas’ triumphant gold medal run in the Asian Games.
JJFP made history by securing two gold medals in the Asian Games, thanks to Margarita ‘Meggie’ Ochoa and Annie Ramirez.
The Major Awards at the SMC-PSA Awards Night will honor gold medalists from the 19th Asian Games – Margarita ‘Meggie’ Ochoa, Annie Ramirez, and Carlos Yulo.
Ochoa and Ramirez’s achievements in jiu-jitsu, along with Yulo’s outstanding performance in gymnastics, have brought immense pride to the Philippines.
The awards ceremony will also recognize other outstanding athletes, including pool players Chezka Centeno, Johann Chua, and James Aranas, golfer Miguel Tabuena, bowler Zach Sales Ramin, champion horse Big Lagoon, jockey John Alvin Guce, and horse owner Vice Gov. Leonardo ‘Sandy’ Javier.
The convergence of these incredible stories at the SMC-PSA Awards Night highlights the diversity and excellence of Philippine sports in 2023, celebrating the dedication and achievements of athletes, associations, and key figures who have contributed significantly to the country’s success on the global stage.
