ONE of the fervent supporters of Philippine sports through the years won’t be missed out in the coming celebration of the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.
AS smoke from the action dissipates, a grand toast is in order for the Philippine sports’ crème de la crème.
The country has a lot to be thankful for in the sporting arena. Its best-ever Olympic performance courtesy of Carlos Edriel Yulo as well as a handful of international exploits here and there.
All of them will get their just recognition on Monday night in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night at the iconic Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.
Leading the charge is none other than gymnastics Yulo, who will be honored with the prestigious Athlete of the Year award.
Yulo’s incredible journey will be celebrated in grand style. The 24-year-old pride of Leveriza, Manila, etched his name in history as the Philippines’ first-ever double gold medalist at the Paris Olympics—a performance that perfectly capped off the country’s centennial participation in the world’s most prestigious sporting event.
This momentous achievement sets the stage for the largest and most dazzling PSA Awards Night in history, co-presented by ArenaPlus, Cignal, and MediaQuest.
The celebration kicks off at 7 p.m., with the theme Golden Year, Golden Centenary, and will honor a total of 117 awardees, each one a symbol of dedication, passion, and excellence.
Our Olympians will be front and center, as they are formally recognized for their extraordinary contributions in representing the Philippines on the global stage.
Athletes from past Olympic teams over the last six decades will join the 2024 Olympic delegation, including the Philippine team that shone in Paris, as well as the Paralympic Games contingent from the French capital.
This incredible gathering will be made possible by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/Smart, Senator Bong Go, and numerous supporting partners like the PBA, PVL, 1-Pacman Party List, Rain or Shine, Akari, and AcroCity.
The evening’s keynote speech will be delivered by former Senator Freddie Webb, a true Olympian himself, who competed in both the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics as part of the men’s basketball team. His words will echo the spirit of all Olympians, celebrating the heart, sacrifice, and glory of Filipino athletes.
A true highlight of the evening will be the induction of legendary weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz into the PSA Hall of Fame.
The four-time Athlete of the Year (2016, 2018, 2021, 2022) will be honored for her groundbreaking achievement in Tokyo, where she gave the country its first-ever Olympic gold. Her dedication and triumph continue to inspire the next generation of athletes.
Other distinguished athletes will also be recognized, including boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, who will receive the President’s Award for their exceptional bronze medal performances in Paris.
The 2024 Executive of the Year Award will go to POC President Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, in recognition of his relentless leadership and commitment to Philippine sports, driving the nation to greater heights in the international arena.
The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines will take home the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year Award, while a host of other deserving athletes across various sports—such as June Mar Fajardo (Mr. Basketball), Jia Morado-De Guzman (Ms. Volleyball), Rubilen Amit and Carlo Biado (billiards), Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran (boxing), Rianne Malixi (golf), and more—will also be awarded Major Awards for their exceptional achievements.
Other notable honorees include the NCAA and MVP Group of Companies for Special Awards, along with 19 additional citations and seven recipients of the prestigious Tony Siddayao Awards.
