Sports Stars of 2024, All Set for PSA Awards Night

ALL THE STARS will align tonight as athletes who have demonstrated their talent and given their all over the course of 2024 will be recognized at the annual Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night. 

The athletes’ hard-earned achievements and glory dedicated to the Philippine flag will be acknowledged this evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel. 

In addition, Nelson Beltran, president of the oldest media group, will lead the much-anticipated toast to the Philippines’ record-breaking performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Best of the Best

This year’s Awards Night has the theme ‘Golden Year, Golden Centenary.’ It is a formal celebration with 117 recipients and the Olympians serving as special guests of honor. 

Former Senator Freddie Webb, who competed for the men’s basketball team in the 1968 (Mexico) and 1972 (Munich) Olympics, is the keynote speaker and will represent all Olympians. 

Carlos Yulo, the 24-year-old pride of Leveriza, Manila, led the Philippines to its first-ever double gold medal finish in the recent Summer Games. This was the country’s best performance in its centennial participation.

With that in mind, this year’s Athlete of the Year will go to the artistic gymnast sensation. Hidilyn Diaz, a former Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, is also expected to receive a historic recognition. 

The renowned weightlifter, who won the Philippines’ first gold medal at the quadrennial showcase in 2020, is slated to be formally inducted into the PSA Hall of Fame. Diaz has also won the Athlete of the Year title four times.

Made Waves in 2024

Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will receive the President’s Award for their bronze medal performances in Paris, while Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, President of the Philippine Olympic Committee, will be named Executive of the Year 2024. 

Tolentino’s persistent hands-on leadership in directing Philippine sports is believed to have propelled the country to greater heights and glory, as seen by two gold medals and two bronze medals at last year’s Olympics. 

For the Major Awards, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) is named National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year. June Mar Fajardo and Kevin Quiambao will be awarded Mr. Basketball, while Jia Morado-De Guzman is the Ms. Volleyball.

Rubilen Amit and Carlo Biado of billiards, Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran of boxing, Daniel Quizon of chess, Rianne Malixi of golf, Tachiana Mangin of taekwondo, and jockeys John Alvin Guce, Batang Manda, and Benhur Abalos of horse racing will all be honored. 

The NCAA and MVP Group of Companies for Special Award, as well as 19 citations and seven Tony Siddayao Award honorees, are also on the PSA honor roll this year.