PSA hands out Ms. Volleyball and Mr. Basketball awards

THE Philippine Sportswriters Association’s (PSA) annual Awards Night, which will be hosted on January 27 at the Manila Hotel, will feature standout volleyball and basketball athletes. 

Jia Morado-De Guzman, captain and main setter for the Philippine women’s national volleyball team, will finally get the Miss Volleyball accolade at the annual PSA Awards Night. 

De Guzman, a former Ateneo standout, led Alas Pilipinas to bronze medals in the SEA Women’s Volleyball League series and won the Best Setter title at the Asian Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup.

Ballers of 2024

June Mar Fajardo of the PBA will be awarded Mister Basketball, while Kevin Quiambao, the UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the past two years, will join him as an amateur awardee. 

The 6-foot-10 Fajardo has already received Mr. Basketball honors in past years, while Quiambao and De Guzman will be celebrating this one of a kind achievement for the first time in their careers. 

The 35-year-old San Miguel big man won his eighth PBA MVP trophy last year. He was also a member of the Gilas Pilipinas, which advanced to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Meanwhile, Quiambao won MVP honors for leading the DLSU Green Archers to consecutive UAAP finals appearances. The Gilas pool member also participated in the FIBA Olympic and Asia Cup qualifiers. 

Previous recipients of the special honors include Scottie Thompson, Terrence Romeo, Thirdy Ravena, and many others, as well as volleybelles Alyssa Valdez, Mika Reyes, Dawn Macandili, Jaja Santiago, Sisi Rondina, and Tots Carlos.

A star-studded night

Aside from these top volleyball and basketball players, the cream of the crop, Carlos Yulo, is likely to get the highest individual accolade, Athlete of the Year, after leading the Philippines to the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Yulo established his place in Philippine sports history as one of the most gifted artistic gymnasts to ever represent the country, winning two gold medals at the 2016 Summer Games.

“From a great Olympic performance to an even greater Olympic show, and from one big breakthrough to an even bigger breakthrough – thanks to Carlos Yulo,” said PSA President Nelson Beltran. 

“Whose giant feat we will celebrate in handling him our highest accolades,” said the sports editor of The Philippine Star, of recognizing the Filipino gymnast with the highest individual honor.

Along with the Golden Boy, his fellow Olympians in the women’s boxing division, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, will receive the President’s Award after winning two bronze medals.