Scribes fete rising Alex Eala, dominant Tots Carlos

Alex Eala in attendance for Game 2 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals between Creamline and Choco Mucho at Araneta Coliseum.–PVL PHOTO

Rising star Alex Eala and prolific spiker 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 after they were named Ms. Tennis and Ms. Volleyball for the year that passed.

The two will join other athletes who dominated their respective sports like 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.

The formal affair will be held on Jan. 29 at the Grand Ballroom of Diamond Hotel. All four personalities form part of the huge 130-plus awardees who are included in the PSA honor roll. H

ighlight of the night is the handing out of the prestigious Athlete of the Year Award to world no. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena. A recipient of a Major Award two years ago, Eala will be honored this time for a hectic year that saw her establish 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 by leading Creamline to the Premier Volleyball League First All-Filipino Conference title opposite Petro Gazz in the absence of injured star Alyssa Valdez. Carlos then won her third Most Valuable Player Award.