Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo reacts after competing during the men's floor exercise final at the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta on October 24, 2025. Yasuyoshi Chiba, AFP/File
MANILA -- Golden boy Carlos Yulo and rising star Alex Eala lead the major contenders vying for the 2025 Athlete of the Year honor in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night.
Both athletes had memorable campaigns in 2025, raising the Philippine flag in their respective sports.
Breakthroughs, returns, historic feats: How PH sports unfolded in 2025
After winning two gold medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yulo reasserted his place among the world's best gymnasts by claiming the vault gold in the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, where he also snared a bronze medal in floor exercise.
READ: Carlos Yulo claims gold in vault at world championships
He also ruled the floor exercise in the Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Jecheon, Korea. On top of that, the Filipino also bagged three bronze medals in the same tournament.
Eala, 20, is coming off a breakthrough campaign in the WTA Tour, where she became the first Filipina to reach the Top 50.
She opened 2025 by reaching the semifinals of the Miami Open in March, won a WTA 125 title in Mexico, then ended the country's gold medal drought in tennis in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
READ: Alex Eala dominates Thai foe, nets PH's first women's singles gold in 26 years
Alexandra Eala of Philippines celebrates her win against Madison Keys during Day 6 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello, Getty Images/AFP/File
Aside from Eala and Yulo, also in contention for the year's top honor are golfer Miguel Tabuena, pool player Chezka Centeno, and swimmer Kayla Sanchez.
The PSA -- the country's oldest media organization -- will hold its annual gala on February 2 at the Diamond Hotel.
Tabuena topped the biggest golf tournament the country ever hosted – the International Series Philippines that featured the likes of Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed and won the top prize of $360,000.
Centeno on the other hand, crowned herself as the WPA Women's 10-Ball world champion by beating Rubilen Amit in a thrilling all-Filipino finale.
Sanchez emerged as the most bemedalled Filipino athlete in the 33rd edition of the SEA Games by claiming three golds and five silvers for a grand total of eight medals in her first ever stint in the biennial showcase.
Also to be handed out by the PSA are the President's Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Executive of the Year, and National Sports Association of the Year.
There are likewise Major Awards to be given, along with citations, special awards, the Tony Siddayao Awards and the Milo Junior Athletes of the Year.
RELATED VIDEO: