The stars and big guns of Philippine sports who made the country proud in 2025 gather together in a special evening of nostalgia and celebration with the staging of the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel Manila on Monday.

Two of the country’s brightest athletes today in dynamic gymnast Carlos Yulo and celebrated netter Alex Eala lead the large ensemble that will be feted by the local sports writing community in the traditional gala that starts at 8 p.m.

Yulo, the Olympic double gold medalists and many-time world champion, along with Eala, tennis’ rising phenom and highest-rated ever Filipino in the world, share the spotlight as the chosen Male and Female Athletes of the Year by the country’s oldest media organization led by its president Francis T.J. Ochoa, sports editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Acknowledged as the “Oscars” of Philippine sports, the traditional awards night is co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and ArenaPlus.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino are going to join the festivity that will also pay tribute to other outstanding athletes, individuals, and entities that truly made the past year another memorable one.

Gregorio himself will be part of the long list of 148 awardees to be cited in the formal affair supported by major backers Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, Premier Volleyball League, Philippine Basketball Association, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy and Acrocity.

The PSC chairman is the recipient of the Executive Award, and likewise serves as the honorable guest speaker for the night.

Champion coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao of Rain or Shine is going to be honored as well with the President’s Award for taking on a challenging 10-year legal battle and successfully winning it for Philippine sports, while unassuming and soft-spoken golfer Frankie Miñoza takes his rightful place into the PSA Hall of Fame.

To be distinguished with the Lifetime Achievement Awards are the 1991 Philippine Davis Cup team of Felix Barrientos, Roland So and Camoy Palahang, the Elorde family, former Bacolod City congressman, mayor, and current weightlifting president Monico Puentevella, women’s national master Mila Emperado, and officiating guru Romeo “Romy” Guevara.

It’s a full-packed program that will be on hand as 12 Major Awardees are to be honored led by golfer Miguel Tabuena, Olympian EJ Obiena, and billiards Hall of Famer Carlo Biado, while to be recognized with their own individual awards are June Mar Fajardo (Mr. Basketball), Bella Belen (Ms. Volleyball) and Bryan Bagunas (Mr. Volleyball).

The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines holds the title National Sports Association of the Year, and Special Awards and Citations are going to be handed out to eight personalities and entities, together with the gold medal winners in the Asian Youth Games and Asian Youth Para Games.

A long honor roll, majority of which consists of gold medalists in both the Southeast Asian Games and Asean Para Games will be given citations, while selected young athletes 17 and below are the latest recipients of the Tony Siddayao Awards.

A minute of silence will likewise be offered to athletes, officials, and individuals who passed away last year and in the weeks leading to the award proceedings.