MULING ipagdiriwang ang mga pinakamalaki at pinakamakulay na panalo ng mga atletang Pilipino sa nakalipas na taon sa gaganaping San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night sa Manila Diamond Hotel.

Si Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz ang mangunguna sa mga natatanging atleta na pararangalan ng PSA, ang itinuturing na oldest media organization sa buong bansa, sa tulong ng Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, at Cignal TV.

Si Diaz ang napiling “Athlete of the Year”.

Ang 31-year-old weightlifter mula Zamboanga City ang nagbigay ng pinakamagandang sandali sa kasaysayan ng Philippine sports matapos niyang manalo sa women’s 55 kg class ng weightlifting sa Tokyo at maiuwi ang kaunaunahang Olympic gold medal ng bansa simula 1924.

Ito na ang ikatlong pagkakataon sa nakalipas na anim na taon na pararangalan si Diaz ng local sportswriting community.

Una nang pinarangalan si Diaz ng PSA matapos maiuwi nito ang silver medal sa Rio Olympics nung 2016 at gold medal sa Asian Games sa Jakarta nung 2018

Sa kabuuan, may 39 awardees na kasama ang mga kalahok saTokyo Olympics at Paralympics, ang bibigyang pugay sa prestihiyosong awards night na sinusuportahan din ng MILO, 1Pacman, Philippine Basketball Association, Philracom, Rain or Shine, ICTSI, Chooks To Go, MVP Sports Foundation, at Smart.

Kabilang sa mga pararangalan sina golfer Yuka Saso at gymnast Carlos Yulo, na bibigyan ng President’s Award; Olympic silver medalists Carlo Paalam at Nesthy Petecio at bronze winner Eumir Marcial; billiards champion Carlo Biado, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, grand slam winner Alex Eala, at boxing champions Nonito Donaire Jr., Jerwin Ancajas, at Johnriel Casimero.

Bibigyan naman ng Lifetime Achievement Award ang mga PBA legends na sina Robert Jaworski Sr. at Ramon Fernandez.

Gayundin, tatanggap ng award sina POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, bilang Executive of the Year; at PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, sa Excellence in Leadership Award.

Ang National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year award ay igagawad sa Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, at Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).

Chooks To Go Fan Favorite ‘Manok Ng Bayan’ awardee si Eumir Marciak habang MILO Champion of Grit and Glory awardee si Diaz.

Bibigyan naman ng citations sina Olympians Margielyn Didal (skateboard), Irish Magno (boxing), Bianca Pagdanganan (golf), Juvic Pagunsan (golf), Elreen Ando (weightlifting), Kristina Knott (athletics), Remedy Rule (swimming), Luke Gebbie (swimming), Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), Cris Nievarez (rowing), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), at Jayson Valdez (shooting), Paralympians Jerrold Mangliwan (wheelchair racing), Ernie Gawilan (swimming), Gary Bejino (swimming), Allain Ganapin (taekwondo), Jeanette Aceveda (athletics), at Achelle Guion (powerlifting), pati na si Asian weightlifting double gold winner Vanessa Sarno.

Ang PSA ay pinangungunahan ni Rey Lachica ng Tempo.

Program host sina veteran broadcaster Sev Sarmenta at dating courtside reporter-news anchor Rizza Diaz.