By Jean Malanum

MANILA – Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) star June Mar Fajardo, collegiate standout Kevin Quiambao, and volleyball star Jia Morado-De Guzman will receive special awards during the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night at The Manila Hotel grand ballroom on Jan. 27 .
Fajardo and Quiambao will get the Mr. Basketball (pro and amateur) awards, while 5-foot-7 setter Morado-De Guzman will receive the Ms. Volleyball award.
Carlos Yulo, who delivered the country’s first Olympic double gold at the Paris Games, will be honored as the 2024 Athlete of the Year.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo is a recipient of the Mr. Basketball honor several times in the past, while Quiambao and De Guzman will get the award for the first time.
Fajardo, 35, won his eighth PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) last year while leading San Miguel to back-to-back finals stint, including ruling the Commissioner’s Cup.
He was a member of the Gilas Pilipinas national team that reached the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament semifinal in Riga, Latvia.
The 6-foot-7 Quiambao bagged the MVP honors for leading De La Salle to back-to-back University Athletic Association of the Philippines finals appearances. The Gilas pool member had competed in both the FIBA Olympic and Asia Cup qualifiers.
Former Ateneo standout De Guzman led Alas Pilipinas to bronze medal finishes in the SEA Women’s V. League series, earning the Best Setter trophy at the Asian Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup.
Previous winners of the special awards were Scottie Thompson, Arwind Santos, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva, Thirdy Ravena, Mark Caguioa, among others, along with volleybelles Alyssa Valdez, Mika Reyes, Dawn Macandili, Jaja Santiago, Sisi Rondina, and Tots Carlos.
The traditional awards night of the country’s oldest media organization is co-presented by ArenaPlus, Cignal and MediaQuest.
The ceremony is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/Smart, Senator Bong Go and Januarius Holdings, with support from the PBA, PVL, 1-Pacman Party-list, AcroCity, Rain or Shine, and Akari. (PNA)