Tennis princess Eala, star spiker Carlos take spotlight
Rising talent Alex Eala and star player Diana Mae ‘Tots’ Carlos will have a share of the spotlight in the San Miguel Corporation-philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night two weeks from now.
Eala, 18, is going to be crowned Ms. Tennis, while Carlos, 25, will be hailed Ms. Volleyball during the formal affair set Jan. 29 at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel.
The two will be joined by June Mar Fajardo (Mr. Basketball) and Sarina Bolden (Ms. Football) as recipients of a special award from the country’s oldest media organization headed by its president Nelson Beltran, sports editor of The Philippine Star, for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields in 2023.
All four personalities form part of the huge 130-plus awardees who are included in the PSA honor roll.
Highlight of the event presented by Arenaplus, the leading sports entertainment gateway in the Philippines, and the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/SMART, and Cignal as major sponsors, is the bestowing of the prestigious Athlete of the Year Award to world No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Also backing the gala night are the Philippine Basketball Association, Premier Volleyball League, 1-Pacman
Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero, and Rain or Shine.
A recipient of a Major Awards two years ago, Eala will be honored this time for a hectic year that saw the Filipina netter establishing herself as an emerging force in the sport by winning two ITF Circuit titles and barging in the Top 200 rankings in the world.
Carlos meanwhile, distinguished herself as one of the best volleyball players in the country today by leading Creamline to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) First Allfilipino Conference title opposite Petro Gazz in the absence of injured star Alyssa Valdez.