2021 PSA Annual Awards


The 2021 San Miguel Corporation - Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards was an annual awarding ceremony honoring the top sports personalities who made tremendous contribution to Philippine sports in the year 2020 despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the postponement and cancellation of major sports events in the country within the first months of the community quarantine and the resumption of sporting tournaments under the bubble setup.
The awards night was held on March 27, 2021. For the first time in the history of the awards and in time of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's edition was staged via hybrid or virtual format, with most of the awardees, including those who reside and train overseas, hooked up online and the awards proper was conducted at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong. The PSA Awards were aired via delayed telecast on One Sports+ Channel, the following day.
William "Butch" Ramirez, Chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission, served as the guest speaker of the awards night.
The organizer, Philippine Sportswriters Association, under its president Eriberto "Tito" S. Talao of Manila Bulletin is considered as the country's oldest media organization, with membership consisting of sportswriters, section editors and columnists from various sports websites, newspapers and tabloids in the Philippines.

Honor roll

Main awards

The following are the list of main awards of the event.

Athlete of the Year

For her back-to-back championship triumphs in the NEC Karuizawa Championship and the Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament of LPGA of Japan Tour last year, Fil-Japanese professional golfer Yuka Saso was named as the Athlete of the Year of the PSA.
This is the second time that Saso bagged the prestigious award, as she have won the same honors in the 2019 PSA Annual Awards, along with 2018 Asian Games gold medalists Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go of golf, Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting and Margielyn Didal of skateboarding.
AwardWinnerSportReferences
Athlete of the YearYuka SasoGolf

Other major awardees

Here are the other major awards to be conferred in the Awards Night.
AwardWinnerSport/Team/RecognitionReferences
Lifetime Achievement AwardEduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Basketball
Lifetime Achievement AwardJose "Joey" RomasantaVolleyball
Lifetime Achievement AwardRenauld "Sonny" BarriosBasketball
National Sports Association of the YearAssociation of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines Boxing
President's AwardAbraham "Bambol" TolentinoCycling
Executive of the YearWillie MarcialBasketball
Chooks-to-Go Fan Favorite "Manok ng Bayan" AwardManny PacquiaoBoxing
Special RecognitionSoldier-Athletes/Frontliners For their outstanding service and bravery to help the Filipinos in time of COVID-19 pandemic

Major awardees

Sorted in alphabetical order.
WinnerSport/Team/RecognitionReferences
Johnriel CasimeroProfessional Boxing
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Alex EalaTennis
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Pedro TaduranProfessional Boxing
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Posthumous Honors

The following recognitions, will be bestowed upon former national & collegiate athletes, officials and sports personalities who died in 2020. They will be honor with a short audio-video presentation and a one-minute moment of silence.
WinnerSport/Team/RecognitionDate of deathReferences
Albert AlmendralejoBasketball/Football
August 7
Salvador "Buddy" AndradaTennis
April 8
Jomar AngKarting
April 8
Alyana BautistaFootball
July 23
Oscar "Dodong" BasconBasketball
July 22
Orlando BauzonBasketball
September 5
WIM Arianne CaoiliChess
March 30
Eduardo "Danding" CojuangcoBasketball
June 16
Sudan DanielBasketball
December 26
Vangie de JesusVolleyball
November 21
Aric Del RosarioBasketball
March 25
Rudy del RosarioFootball
November 20
Ronald DulayVolleyball
August 3
Laura ElordeBoxing
May 3
Maui HuelarBasketball
April 16
Celestina Beatrice LunaFootball
May 26
Nic JorgeBasketball
June 13
Alexander LimBowling
April 1
Alfonso "Boy" MarquezBasketball
April 15
Teddyvic MelendresSportswriting
December 26
Junel MendiolaBasketball
June 16
Rico NavarroBasketball/Sportswriting
October 27
Oliver OngtawcoBowling
June 8
Gene PoliarcoChess
April 5
Iñaki VicenteFootball
January 9
Josie VeguillasIce skating
November 2
Domingo "Coach Waray" VillanuevaCycling
April 7
Randy VillanuevaTennis
October 27