The grand ballroom of the Manila Hotel is set to glitter with the brightest stars of Philippine sports on January 27, as the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night celebrates the exceptional achievements of Filipino athletes and sports leaders in 2024.
Three standout athletes will receive special recognition for their dominance in their respective sports.
PBA star June Mar Fajardo, collegiate ace Kevin Quiambao, and volleyball icon Jia Morado-De Guzman are the recipients of the prestigious Mr. Basketball (pro and amateur) and Ms. Volleyball awards.
Fajardo’s record-breaking eighth PBA MVP title and his leadership of San Miguel’s championship campaigns were instrumental in securing his spot.
Quiambao, De La Salle’s basketball prodigy, earned consecutive UAAP MVP honors while guiding the Green Archers to back-to-back finals appearances.
Meanwhile, Morado-De Guzman, a former Ateneo standout, shone as Alas Pilipinas’ skipper, leading her team to multiple bronze finishes in the SEA Women’s V.League and earning the Best Setter award.
The awards night will also honor two world champions from billiards and boxing.
Rubilen Amit and Carlo Biado brought pride to the nation by clinching the WPA Women’s World 9-Ball and WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championships, respectively.
Joining them are boxing titlists Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran, who showcased Filipino boxing excellence on the global stage.
Major awards will also be presented to exceptional athletes from diverse fields, including chess grandmaster Daniel Quizon, golf prodigy Rianne Malixi, and taekwondo sensation Tachiana Mangin.
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will be honored as Executive of the Year for his pivotal role in steering Team Pilipinas to its best-ever Olympic performance.
Under his guidance, the Filipino contingent secured two bronze medals alongside Yulo’s historic double-gold victory, surpassing expectations and setting a new standard for future campaigns.
Tolentino’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming Philippine sports, from Hidilyn Diaz’s iconic 2020 Olympic gold to the nation’s current achievements in Paris.
This marks Tolentino’s third Executive of the Year award, underscoring his lasting impact on the country’s athletic legacy.
