June Mar Fajardo, Kevin Quiambao, Jia De Guzman to receive citations in PSA Awards Night

Three of the country's brightest athletes will get nods when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) holds its annual Awards Night on January 27 at the Manila Hotel. 

Reigning PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, and Philippine women's volleyball team captain Jia De Guzman are set to receive special citations after making a mark in the year that just passed. 

Fajardo and Quiambao will be given the 2024 Mr. Basketball for professional and amateur ranks, respectively, while veteran setter De Guzman will be hailed as the Ms. Volleyball. 

San Miguel frontcourt giant Fajardo made history in 2024 when he captured his record-extending eighth MVP plum while also leading the Beermen to the PBA Commissioner's Cup title. 

The 35-year-old bruiser is also a key cog for Gilas Pilipinas, helping the national team during its historic participation in the 2024 FIBA Olympics Qualifying Tournament, where they ended a 64-year win drought against any European team after beating host Latvia. 

Quiambao, meanwhile, was the undisputed back-to-back MVP in the UAAP after leading De La Salle University back to the finals in Season 87. Their title defense, however, came up short after falling to University of the Philippines in the best-of-three finals. 

De Guzman, for her part, anchored the country's national women's volleyball squad during the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup, where the former Ateneo standout was named the Best Setter. 

Fajardo, Quiambao, and De Guzman join Carlos Yulo and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines in the roster of awardees with the Filipino gymnast being named the 2024 Athlete of the Year for copping two gold medals in the Paris Olympics. 

Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will also be recognized for bagging bronze medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics, while pool icons Rubilen Amit and Carlo Biado will lead PSA's major awardees. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News