The 2024 San Miguel Corporation (SMC)-Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night was an annual awarding ceremony honoring the individuals (athletes, officials) teams and organizations that had made significant contributions to the continuous growth of Philippine sports in 2023.
Details The awarding ceremony was held on January 29, 2024, at the Diamond Ballroom of the Diamond Hotel in Manila.
A total of 140 personalities and groups spearheaded by EJ Obiena as the Athlete of the Year were given out the most awards in this year's edition of the country's top sports award-giving body, which coincides the 75th anniversary of the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann, Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino and other Philippine sports officials were attended the affair.
Prior to the announcement, Team Philippines' gold medalists from the 2022 Asian Games, Obiena (Athletics), Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez (Jiu-Jitsu), and the Philippines men's national basketball team (Gilas Pilipinas) and the Philippines women's national football team (Filipinas) who have been played in their maiden appearance at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup are among the candidates for the Athlete of the Year of 2023 by the PSA.
The PSA, currently headed by its president, Nelson Beltran, sports editor of The Philippine Star, is the oldest Philippine-based media group established in 1948 and the membership is composed of sportswriters, sports reporters, sports editors, and columnists from the Philippines-based broadsheets, tabloids, online sports websites, and broadcast media.
Honor roll Main awards The following are the list of main awards of the event.
Athlete of the Year
Pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena was the majority choice of the PSA for the Athlete of the Year for 2023 due to his successful accomplishments in that year including the gold medal finishes in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Thailand and 2022 Asian Games in China and silver medal rout in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Hungary, setting new competition, Philippine and Asian records, making it into the 6-meter club and his current placing as the World #2 Pole Vaulter.
Obiena bested Ramirez, Ochoa, the Gilas Pilipinas and the Filipinas teams for the recognition. He is also the first track & field athlete since 2009 (courtesy of Marestella Torres of Long Jump) to be bestowed for the major award.
Obiena did not attend the ceremony but he did joined via Zoom, while his parents Emerson and Jeanette received the award on his behalf.
Award Winner Sport ReferencesAthlete of the Year EJ Obiena Athletics (Pole Vault)
Main awardees Award Winner Sport/Team/Recognition References President's Award Gilas Pilipinas (Philippines men's national basketball team) Basketball (2022 Asian Games gold medalist, Men's 5x5 Basketball) Lifetime Achievement Award Allan CaidicSamboy LimJoe LipaDante SilverioTuro Valenzona Basketball (Philippine basketball's legendary players and coaches) National Sports Association of the Year Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Jiu-Jitsu Federation of the Philippines (JJFP) Basketball and Jiu-Jitsu (Responsible for winning 3 out of 4 gold medals in the 2022 Asian Games) Executive of the Year Ramon Ang and Manny Pangilinan Basketball (Main backers of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Gilas Pilipinas program) Mr. Basketball June Mar Fajardo Basketball (2022-2023 PBA season Most Valuable Player (San Miguel Beermen) and Gilas Pilipinas center - won golds in SEA Games and Asian Games and played in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup) Ms. Football Sarina Bolden Football (Filipinas (Philippines women's national football team) forward and goal scorer in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup) Ms. Tennis Alex Eala Tennis (Won two ITF circuit titles and two Asian Games bronze medals in Women's Singles and Mixed Doubles) Ms. Volleyball Tots Carlos Volleyball (2023 Premier Volleyball League First All-Filipino Conference Champion for Creamline Cool Smashers and Most Valuable Player and Second All-Filipino Conference Champion for Creamline) Special Award "Golden Lady Booters" Filipinas (Philippines women's national football team) Football (Made historic first appearance at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup) Milo Philippines Gold, Grit and Glory Award EJ Obiena Athletics (World-Ranked #2 pole vaulter and 2022 Asian Games gold medalist)
Major awardees Sorted by alphabetical order and based by surname.
Winner Sport/Team/Recognition References James Aranas Billiards Big Lagoon Horse racing (Horse of the Year) Chezka Centeno Billiards Johann Chua Billiards John Alvin Guce Horse racing (Jockey of the Year) Leonardo "Sandy" Javier Jr. Horse racing (Horse Owner of the Year) Meggie Ochoa Jiu-jitsu Zach Ramin Bowling Annie Ramirez Jiu-jitsu Miguel Tabuena Golf Carlos Yulo Gymnastics
Recognitions The PSA will give recognition awards to the gold medalists of four major international competitions that Team Philippines joined this year.
2023 Southeast Asian Games gold medalists
The Philippine delegation finished in 5th place with 58 golds, 85 silver and 115 bronze medals in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games which was held from 5 to 16 May 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Arven Alcantara (Taekwondo) Francis Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales (Tennis) Ella Alcoseba (Arnis) Sakura Alforte (Karate) Kirstie Alora (Taekwondo) Elreen Ando (Weightlifting) Joseph Arcilla (Soft Tennis) Jason Balabal (Wrestling) Kurt Barbosa (Taekwondo) Paul Bascon (Boxing) Ian Clark Bautista (Boxing) Miguel Besana (Gymnastics) Dexler Bolambao (Arnis) Precious Cabuya (Obstacle Course Racing) Xiandi Chua (Swimming) Fer Casares (Triathlon) Robin Catalan (Kun Bokator) Princess Catindig and Bien Zoleta-Mañalac (Soft Tennis) Eric Cray (Athletics) John Ivan Cruz (Gymnastics) Gretel de Paz (Kickboxing) Crisamuel Delfin (Arnis) Angel Derla (Kun Bokator) Rena Furukawa (Judo) Jamie Lim (Karate) Marc Lim (Jiu-Jitsu) Alvin Lobreguito (Wrestling) Trixie Lofranco (Arnis) Kim Mangrobang (Triathlon) Samuel Morrison (Taekwondo) Kaila Napolis (Jiu-Jitsu) EJ Obiena (Athletics) Carlo Paalam (Boxing) Patrick King Perez (Taekwondo) Nesthy Petecio (Boxing) Annie Ramirez (Jiu-Jitsu) Mark Julius Rodelas (Obstacle Course Racing) Jean Claude Saclag (Kickboxing) Teia Salvino (Swimming) Vanessa Sarno (Weightlifting) Jedah Soriano (Arnis) Charlotte Tolentino (Arnis) Ronil Tubog (Wrestling) Janry Ubas (Athletics) Claudine Veloso (Kickboxing) Cristina Vergara (Wrestling) Agatha Wong (Wushu) Carlos Yulo (Gymnastics) Philippine Aquathlon Team (Mixed) Erika Burgos, Kira Ellis, Matthew Hermosa, Inaki Lorbes Philippine Athletics Team (Men's 4 x 400 meter relay) Michael del Prado, Frederick Ramirez, Joyme Sequita, Umajesty Williams Philippine Basketball Team - Men's: Gilas Pilipinas Mason Amos, Justin Brownlee, Marcio Lassiter, Jerom Lastimosa, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Michael Phillips, Chris Ross, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Christian Standhardinger, Arvin Tolentino Philippine ESports Team Reniel "Dr4w" Angara, Aaron Mark "Aaron" Bingay, Golden Hart "DemonKite" Dajao, Gerald Gianne "Tgee" Gelacio, Chammy Paul "Chammy" Nazarrea, Justine Ritchie "Juschie" Tan (League of Legends: Wild Rift) Angelo Kyle "Pheww" Arcangel, David "FlapTzy" Canon, Nowee "Ryota" Macasa, Marco "Super Marco" Requitano, Kyle "KyleTzy" Sayson, Rowgien "Owgwen" Unigo (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) Philippine Obstacle Course Racing Team Jay-R de Castro, Mervin Guarte, Ahgie Radan, Elias Tabac (Men's Team Relay) Sandi Menchi Abahan, Mecca Cortizano, Tess Nocyao, Mhik Tejares (Women's Team Relay) Philippine Soft Tennis Team (Women's) Fatima Amirul, Virvien Bejosano, Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta-Mañalac, Christy Sañosa, Bambi Zoleta Philippine Taekwondo Team (Women's Recognized Poomsae) Nicole Labayne, Aidaine Laxa, Jocel Lyn Ninobla
2023 ASEAN Para Games gold medalists
The Philippine delegation finished in 5th place with 34 golds, 33 silver and 50 bronze medals in the 2023 ASEAN Para Games which was held from 3 to 9 June 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Ariel Alegarbes (Swimming) Cendy Asusano (Athletics) Gary Bejino (Swimming) Darry Bernardo (Chess) Evaristo Carbonel (Athletics) Ernie Gawilan (Swimming) Andrei Kuizon (Athletics) Jerrold Mangliwan (Athletics) Cheyzer Mendoza (Chess) Angel Otom (Swimming) Marydol Pamati-an (Powerlifting) King James Reyes (Athletics) Sander Severino (Chess) Rosalie Torrefiel (Athletics) Philippine Para Chess Team Felix Aguilera, Henry Roger Lopez, Sander Severino (Men's PI) Darry Bernardo, Israel Peligro, Menandro Redor, Arman Subaste (Men's VI-B2/B3) Cheryl Angot, Fe Mangayayam, Cheyzer Mendoza, Jean Lee Nacita (Women's PI)
2022 Asian Games gold medalists
The Philippine delegation finished in 17th place with 4 golds, 2 silver and 12 bronze medals in the 2022 Asian Games which was held from 23 September to 8 October 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
EJ Obiena (Athletics) Meggie Ochoa (Jiu-Jitsu) Annie Ramirez (Jiu-Jitsu) Philippine Basketball Team - Men's: Gilas Pilipinas Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Alas, Justin Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, Ange Kouame, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Chris Ross, Scottie Thompson, Arvin Tolentino
2022 Asian Para Games gold medalists
The Philippine delegation finished in 9th place with 10 golds, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals in the 2022 Asian Para Games which was held from 22 to 28 October 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
Darry Bernardo (Chess) Ernie Gawilan (Swimming) Henry Roger Lopez (Chess) Jerrold Mangliwan (Athletics) Cheyzer Mendoza (Chess) Menandro Redor (Chess) Philippine Para Chess Team Darry Bernardo, Menandro Redor, Arman Subaste (VI-B2/B3) Henry Roger Lopez, Jasper Rom, Sander Severino (PI)
Citations The following are the athletes and team who will give special citations for their outstanding achievements in sports.
Winner Sport/Team/Recognition References AP Bren Esports (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) Efren Bagamasbad Chess Bago City Girls Softball Team Softball Bianca Bustamante Motorsports Creamline Cool Smashers Volleyball Kaila Napolis Jiu-Jitsu Veronica Ompod Powerlifting Kevin "Popoy" Pascua Obstacle Course Racing Philippine Bowling Team Bowling Standard Insurance Centennial V Sailing Team Manila Softball Team Softball Darius Venerable Taekwondo Rhichein Yosorez and Kylie Mallari Muay Thai
Milo Philippines - Tony Siddayao Awards for Junior Athletes
The award, which is named after Tony Siddayao (deceased, former sports editor of Manila Standard) and sponsored by Milo Philippines is given out to outstanding junior national athletes aged 18 and below.
Winner Sport/Team/Recognition References Aleia Aielle Aguilar Jiu-Jitsu Christian Gian Karlo Arca Chess Eron Borres Weightlifting Angeline Colonia Weightlifting Trisha Mae del Rosario Obstacle Course Racing Prince Keil delos Santos Weightlifting Althea Gaccion Golf Joseph Anthony Godbout Modern Pentathon Sebastien Niel Mañalac Karate Tachiana Kezhia Mangin Taekwondo Jan Brix Ramiscal Muay Thai Karl Eldrew Yulo Gymnastics
Posthumous Honors for Deceased Sports Personalities During the awards program, the organization will offer a special tribute and remembrance to the sports personalities who died in 2023 through a one minute of silent prayer.
Tisha Abundo (Volleyball) Charles Dave Dela Pena (e-Sports) Kenneth Egano (Boxing) Rudy Entertina (Basketball) Emmanuel Gacho (e-Sports) Ray Butch Gamboa (Motoring) Rey Gamboa (Basketball) Antonio Genato (Basketball) Nap Gutierrez (Sportswriting) Fernando Libed (Basketball) Samboy Lim (Basketball) Rob Luna (e-Sports) Ricky Mariano (Basketball) Ed Picson (Boxing / Sportscasting) Molet Pineda (Basketball) Terry Saldaña (Basketball) Yoyo Sangare (Football) Estanislao Terrones (Softball) Rodolfo Tingzon (Baseball) Ato Tolentino (Basketball) Boybits Victoria (Basketball)
See also