The Philippine Sportswriters Association recognized several athletes, executives, and organizations for their stellar achievements, efforts, and contributions in 2024.
The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) honored several athletes--including past Olympians--as well as executives and organizations on January 27 at the Manila Hotel.
The PSA Awards Night was held to recognize their stellar achievements, efforts, and contributions in 2024.
Here's the full list of awardees.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Carlos Yulo (Gymnastics)
@onesportsphl GOLDEN BOY 🌟 Double Olympic champion Carlos Yulo takes time to snap photos with his fellow Olympians and athletes at the 2025 PSA Awards. | via Jamie Velasco/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #Paris2024 #PSAAwards #OneSports
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
[ALSO READ: Chloe San Jose feels ‘loved and cared for’ as Carlos Yulo credits her support for his success]
HALL OF FAME
Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo (Weightlifting)
- Made history as the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medalist
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Nesthy Petecio (Boxing)
- First Philippine boxer to achieve back-to-back Olympic podium finishes
Aira Villegas (Boxing)
- Secured bronze in her Olympic debut
@onesportsphl HINDI PWEDE MAWALA SA ATLETA 🤣 Take a look inside Filipino Olympian Aira Villegas’ bag as she attends the 2025 #PSAAwards to receive the President’s Award for her bronze medal finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. | via Jamie Velasco/One Sports #OSTimeout #Paris2024 #PSAAwards
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino (POC)
- Led Team Philippines in hauling two gold medals and two bronze medals in Paris 2024
NSA OF THE YEAR
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines
- For honing talents such as double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo
SPECIAL AWARD
MVP GROUP OF COMPANIES
- Delivered world-class coverage of Paris 2024
PARIS 2024 OLYMPIANS
- EJ Obiena (Athletics)
- Lauren Hoffman (Athletics)
- John Cabang Tolentino (Athletics)
- Carlo Paalam (Boxing)
- Eumir Marcial (Boxing)
- Hergie Bacyadan (Boxing)
- Samantha Catantan (Fencing)
- Bianca Pagdanganan (Golf)
- Dottie Ardina (Golf)
- Aleah Finnegan (Gymnastics)
- Emma Malabuyo (Gymnastics)
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Levi Jung-Ruivivar (Gymnastics)
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Kiyomi Watanabe (Judo)
- Joanie Delgaco (Rowing)
- Kayla Sanchez (Swimming)
- Jarod Hatch (Swimming)
- Elreen Ann Ando (Weightlifting)
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John Ceniza (Weightlifting)
- Vanessa Sarno (Weightlifting)
PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIANS
- Agustina Bantiloc (Para archery)
- Jerrold Mangliwan (Para athletics)
- Cendy Asusano (Para athletics)
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Ernie Gawilan (Para swimming)
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Angel Otom (Para swimming)
- Allain Ganapin (Para taekwondo)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: FILIPINO OLYMPIANS
- Ernesto Beren (Gymnastics) - Mexico 1968
- Jaime Mariano (Basketball) - Mexico 1968, Munich 1972
- Freddie Webb (Basketball) - Munich 1972
- Ricardo Fortaleza (Boxing) - Munich 1972
- Marte Samson (Basketball) - Munich 1972
- Gerardo Rosario (Swimming) - Munich 1972, Montreal 1976
- Reynaldo Fortaleza (Boxing) - Montreal 1976
- Akiko Thomson Guevara (Swimming) - Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996
@onesportsphl ‘THERE’S A PEG THAT PEOPLE CAN ASPIRE FOR.’ 🌟 Former Olympian and eight-time SEA Games gold medalist Akiko Thomson-Guevara expressed her pride in the growth of Philippine sports over the years. She also shared her hope that the recent successes of Filipino athletes in the Olympic Games will open the door for even more achievements in the future. | via Jamie Velasco/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #PSAAwards #OneSports #SportsonTiktok ? original sound - OneSportsPHL
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Nenito Adan (Athletics) - Seoul 1988
- Stephen Fernandez (Taekwondo) - Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992
- Edgardo Maerina (Rowing) - Seoul 1988
- Benjamin McMurray (Judo) - Seoul 1988
- Gregorio Colonia (Weightlifting) - Seoul 1988
- Monsour del Rosario III (Taekwondo) - Seoul 1988
- Roel Velasco (Boxing) - Barcelona 1992
- Isidro Vicera Jr. (Boxing) - Barcelona 1992
- Juan Miguel Torres (Sailing) - Barcelona 1992
- Jaime Reco (Shooting) - Barcelona 1992
- Ed Lasquete (Athletics) - Barcelona 1992
- Walter Torres (Fencing) - Barcelona 1992
- Beatriz Lucero Lhuillier (Taekwondo) - Barcelona 1992
- Amparo Lim (Badminton) - Atlanta 1996
- Mansueto Velasco Jr. (Boxing) - Atlanta 1996
- Jenny Rose Guerrero (Swimming) - Sydney 2000
- Roberto Cruz (Taekwondo) - Sydney 2000
- Donald Geisler (Taekwondo) - Sydney 2000, Athens 2004
- Jasmin Strachan Simpao (Taekwondo) - Sydney 2000
- Benjamin Tolentino Jr. (Rowing) - Sydney 2000
- Marie Antoinette Leviste (Equestrian) - Sydney 2000
- Raphael Matthew Chua (Swimming) - Athens 2004
- Jethro Dionisio (Shooting) - Athens 2004
- Eric Ang (Shooting) - Beijing 2008
- Marestella Toress Sunang (Athletics) - Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016
- Jessie Lacna (Swimming) - London 2012, Rio 2016
- Rene Herrera (Athletics) - London 2012
- Jasmine Alkhaldi (Swimming) - London 2012, Rio 2016
- Kirstie Elaine Alora (Taekwondo) - Rio 2016
- Mary Joy Tabal (Athletics) - Rio 2016
- Charly Suarez (Athletics) - Rio 2016
- Rogen Ladon (Athletics) - Rio 2016
- Cris Nievarez (Rowing) - Tokyo 2020
- Kurt Barbosa (Taekwondo) - Tokyo 2020
MR. BASKETBALL (Professional)
June Mar Fajardo
- Won his record eighth PBA Most Valuable Player plum, helped Gilas Pilipinas stun Latvia in the FIBA OQT
MR. BASKETBALL (Amateur)
Kevin Quiambao
MS. VOLLEYBALL
Jia Morado-De Guzman
MAJOR AWARDEES
Rubilen Amit (Billiards)
- Won the WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Championship
Carlo Biado (Billiards)
- Won the Chinese Taipei Open and the 2024 WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championship
Melvin Jerusalem (Boxing)
- Defended his WBC strawweight title against the previously undefeated Luis Castillo of Mexico
Pedro Taduran (Boxing)
- Reclaimed the IBF minimumweight championship, beating Ginjiro Shigeoka of Japan
Daniel Quizon (Chess)
- Became the Philippines' 17th grandmaster (the first since 2011) and competed in the 45th World Chess Olympiad
Rianne Malixi (Golf)
- Won the Women's Australian Master of the Amateurs, rose to no. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings
Tachiana Mangin (Taekwondo)
- Won gold in the women's -49kg of the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships
John Alvin Guce (Jockey of the Year)
- Hailed topnotcher in terms of earnings and nabbed most number of races won in the season
Batang Manda (Horse of the Year)
Benhur Abalos (Horse Owner of the Year)
- Helped his team win in the Philracom-PCSO Presidential Gold Cup
SPECIAL AWARD
NCAA
SPECIAL CITATIONS
Isabella Joseline Butler (Jiu-jitsu)
- Won gold in the under-18 -57kg class of the 2024 JJIF World Championships
Ruelle Canino (Chess)
- Topped the 2024 National Women’s Championship, helped Team Philippines get the Group B gold in the Budapest Chess Olympiad
Johann Chua (Billiards)
- Won Hanoi Open 9-Ball Championship, helped Team Asia win the Reyes Cup
Albert James ‘AJ’ Manas (Billiards)
- Won the 99 Billiards Club Tournament
Angeline Colonia (Weightlifting)
- Won gold in snatch and total lift of the 45kg class in the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Junior Championships
Lovely Inan (Weightlifting)
- Won gold in clean and jerk and total lift of the 49kg class in the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Junior Championships
Kheith Rhynne Cruz (Table tennis)
- Won the Under-19 girls' singles division of the WTT Youth Contender Westchester 2024
Marc Dylan Custodio (Bowling)
- Ruled the 10th DIBC-Delta Open Bowling Tournament, played a key role for Team Pilippines in the Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships
Mark John Lexer Galedo (Cycling)
- Champion in the Tour of Guam long course (elite) event, clocking in at 2:47:57 for the 105 km race at the age of 39
Karl Eldrew Yulo (Gymnastics)
Regie Ramirez (Powerlifting)
- Won gold medal in the 2024 World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championships, first Filipino to old a World Open record of 275.5kg in the men's -59kg
Jessa Mae Tabuan (Powerlifting)
- Made Philippine junior records in bench and deadlift, won silver in squat of women's -52kg in the 2024 World Juniors Powerlifting Championships
Creamline Cool Smashers (Volleyball)
@onesportsphl ‘WOW, I HAVE CASH.’ 🤣 Check out what’s inside the bags of Creamline Cool Smashers’ Bea de Leon and Alyssa Valdez at the 2025 #PSAAwards. | via Jamie Velasco/One Sports #OSTimeout #PVL2025 #TheHeartofVolleyball #OneSports
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
Dragon Boat National Team
- Overall champion in the ICF Dragon Boat World Championship
Philippine Volcanoes (Rugby)
- Historic double gold for men and women in the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy
Philippine Baseball Team
- Five-peat winner in the East Asia Baseball Cup
Centennial 7 (Sailing)
- First Philippine boat and first all-Filipino crew who competed in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race
Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara (Volleyball)
- Elected president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and appointed as executive vice president of the FIVB
Pilipinas Live
- Transformed sports viewing through live streaming
TONY SIDDAYAO AWARDEES
The Tony Siddayao Award, named after the late former Manila Standard editor who is considered the Dean of Philippine sportswriting, recognizes young and promising athletes.
Aleia Aielle Aguilar (Jiu-jitsu)
- Winning the 22kg class in the 2024 World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championships
Alexander Gabriel Delos Reyes (Wushu)
- Won gold in the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships
Sophia Shekaina Catantan (Fencing)
- Won gold in the junior women's foil of the fifth Southeast Asia Pacific Fencing Championships
Jamesray Mishael Ajido (Swimming)
- Won gold in the 200m backstroke of the 2024 Asian Open School Invitational Long Course Swimming Championships
Behrouz Mohammad Mojdeh (Swimming)
- Won gold in the boys' 12-14 100m butterfly of the 11th Asian Age Group Swimming Championships
Paul Sondrie Capinig (Wrestling)
- Won gold in the 51kg freestyle and silver in the 51kg Greco Roman event of the SEA/Oceania Wrestling Championships
Mariam Grace Balisme (Wrestling)
- Won gold in the 61kg women's freestyle of the SEA/Oceania Wrestling Championships