The most dominant force in Philippine basketball today headlines the list of special awardees set to be honored at the San Miguel Corporation–Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night on February 16 at the Diamond Hotel Manila.
Nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo once again claims the Mr. Basketball title, joining volleyball superstars Bryan Bagunas and Bella Belen, who will be recognized as Mr. and Ms. Volleyball, respectively, during the annual gala organized by the country’s oldest media organization and presented by ArenaPlus.
The recognition marks the seventh time the 35-year-old Fajardo has received the Mr. Basketball honor, underscoring his sustained dominance on the local hardwood. Bagunas earns the award for the second time, while Belen becomes a first-time recipient after a breakout year that cemented her status as one of Philippine volleyball’s brightest stars.
Fajardo, Bagunas, and Belen are among the distinguished athletes to be celebrated in the 2025 PSA honor roll, led by Carlos Yulo and Alex Eala, who will be feted as Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
The awards night is supported by major sponsors including the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, Philippine Volleyball League, Philippine Basketball Association, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy, and Acrocity, highlighting the event’s stature as the country’s premier sports recognition ceremony.
The 6-foot-11 Fajardo again stood tall during Season 49 of the PBA when he reset his own record by winning an unprecedented ninth MVP trophy after steering San Miguel to its 11th Philippine Cup championship by beating TNT, and foiling the grand slam bid of the telecommunication franchise.
The veteran center out of University of Cebu also continued to be the pillar in the middle of Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team that saw action in the FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia and the first window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The 28-year-old Bagunas from Balayan, Batangas spearheaded Alas Pilipinas’ maiden campaign in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship which the country hosted for the first time ever.
Bagunas and Co. stunned world no. 21 Egypt, 29-27, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, for their first ever win on the world stage, before falling short against no. 14 Iran in a closely-fought battle for a berth in the Final 16 (25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 20-22).
He later led the national team to a bronze medal finish in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Belen, 23, powered National University to a second straight UAAP women’s volleyball championship with a two-game sweep of La Salle in the finals.
The outgoing Lady Bulldogs’ team captain capped her final season by being adjudged as league MVP for the third time. Her no. 4 jersey was later retired by NU and became the first player in school history to be given the honor.
The no.1 overall pick in the 2025 PVL rookie draft by Capital 1 was also a major cog for the Alas Pilipinas team that registered its best finish in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nation Cup with a silver medal in Hanoi behind host Vietnam, to surpass the bronze medal it won in 2024.
