Philippine Sports Stars Set for Major Recognition at 2025 PSA Awards Night
The San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) 2025 Annual Awards Night, scheduled three weeks from now at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, will bestow special recognition upon a distinguished group of Filipino athletes who excelled on global and continental stages over the past year. This prestigious event, organized by the country's oldest media organization and co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and ArenaPlus, will honor Olympians, world champions, and rising stars across various sports disciplines.
Elite Athletes to Receive Major Awards
A total of thirteen exceptional athletes and teams have been selected to receive Major Awards during the gala festivities. The list includes 32-year-old Olympian golfer Miguel Tabuena and billiards Hall of Famer Carlo Biado, alongside fellow world champions Chezka Centeno, Melvin Jerusalem, Annie Ramirez, and Pedro Taduran. These individuals will join seven other honorees in what promises to be a memorable celebration of Philippine sporting excellence.
The additional Major Awardees encompass the Philippine men's curling team, accomplished pool player Jonas Magpantay, Olympian and world-ranked pole vaulter EJ Obiena, jockey Jonathan Hernandez, champion horse Don Julio, and Horse Owner of the Year James Rabano. All recipients will become part of a long and distinguished honor roll recognized during the star-studded evening.
Top Honors for Yulo and Eala
While the Major Awards highlight collective achievements, the highest individual accolades will be shared by Olympic gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo and rising tennis sensation Alex Eala. The sports writing community has named them Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively. Notably, Biado, Tabuena, and Centeno were also contenders for these top honors but ultimately lost out to Yulo and Eala's outstanding performances.
Notable Achievements of the Honorees
The awardees have compiled impressive records that justify their recognition. Miguel Tabuena captivated a massive Filipino audience at the Sta. Elena Golf Club with an emotional victory at the International Series Philippines, winning by three strokes against a field featuring major champions and earning $360,000.
Carlo Biado made history by becoming the first Filipino to win the World Pool Championship twice, defeating American Fedor Gorst 15-13 in the finals held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Later in the year, he was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida, joining five other Filipinos enshrined in this prestigious institution.
Chezka Centeno reclaimed her title in the WPA Women's 10-Ball World Championship by edging out Rubilen Amit in an exhilarating all-Philippine finale. At 26 years old, Centeno became only the second two-time champion of the tournament, following Amit's earlier accomplishments.
Diverse Sporting Triumphs
Annie Ramirez showcased her dominance in jiu-jitsu by securing a double gold at the JIJF World Championships in Bangkok, ruling both the -57kg Gi and -57kg No-Gi categories. She later contributed the country's sole gold medal at the 9th Asian Jiu-jitsu Championship in Amman, Jordan.
In boxing, Melvin Jerusalem successfully defended his WBC mini-flyweight title twice, overcoming Yudai Shigeoka in Japan and South African Siyakholwa Kuse during the main event of the Thrilla in Manila 50th anniversary celebration at the Araneta Coliseum. Similarly, Pedro Taduran retained his IBF mini-flyweight crown with victories against Ginjiro Shigeoka in Japan and Christian Balunan in San Andres, Manila.
The Philippine men's curling team, comprising Marc Pfister, Enrico Pfister, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, and Benjo Delarmente, defied expectations to win gold at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China. Their remarkable journey included triumphs over the host nation in the semifinals and South Korea in the finals.
Additional Sporting Excellence
EJ Obiena continued his ascent in pole vaulting by securing a third consecutive gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea. He won a jump-off against China's Bokai Huang by clearing 5.77 meters, reinforcing his status as a world-class athlete.
Jonas Magpantay made a significant impact in the pool world by clinching victory at the Qatar World Cup 10-Ball meet in Doha, outperforming a strong field of world champions and earning $100,000 in prize money.
The awards night enjoys robust support from major backers, including the Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, Premier Volleyball League, Philippine Basketball Association, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy, and Acrocity. This collective endorsement underscores the event's importance in celebrating Philippine sports achievements and inspiring future generations of athletes.
