THE heroes and stars of Philippine sports in 2015 get their well-deserved recognition tonight when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) holds its traditional Annual Awards Night, presented by Milo and San Miguel Corp.
Two world boxing champions and a rising golf star who scored a breakthrough win in the Asian Tour lead a long list of awardees to be feted at the One Esplanade in Pasay City.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight titleholder Nonito Donaire Jr., longtime WBO light-flyweight titlist Donnie Nietes, and Philippine Open champion Miguel Tabuena lead the two-hour program on the eve of Valentine’s Day as cowinners of the prestigious Athlete of the Year award by the country’s oldest media organization, headed by its president Riera Mallari, sports editor of The Standard.
It will be the fourth Athlete of the Year award for the 33-year-old Donaire, having won the trophy in 2007, 2011 and 2012, while Nietes, 33, and Tabuena, 21, are first-time winners of the award solely handed out by the sportswriting fraternity to deserving Filipino athletes.
There are 111 awardees to be feted in the Awards Night, hosted by Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon. The program starts at 7:30 p.m. The Philippine Sports Commission is a major sponsor of the Awards Night also supported by longtime friends of sports Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Maynilad, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philracom, Accel, Sen. Chiz Escudero, SM Prime Holdings, Rain or Shine, Globalport, National University and One Esplanade.
The spotlight will also be on Gilas Pilipinas, which will receive the President’s Award, and Alaska President and CEO Wilfred Uytengsu Jr., named Executive of the Year. Uytengsu is also the guest of honor and speaker.
Baseball and softball great Filomeno “Boy” Codiñera will be accorded the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Wushu Federation of the Philippines will be named the National Sports Association of the Year; while the Mr. Basketball titles will be given to Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva; and Ms. Volleyball to Alyssa Valdez.
Top achievers in their respective fields will be the recipient of major awards, led by San Miguel Beer main man June Mar Fajardo, who also leads the major awardees as the best in professional basketball.
The gold medalists in the 28th Southeast Asian Games and Asean Para Games will receive Citations, while eight departed friends of Philippine sports will be honored with Posthumous Awards.
Nine young personalities make up the year’s newest batch of Tony Siddayao awardees, while Kobe Macario and Kyla Soguilon are the recipients of the Milo Junior Male and Female Athletes of the Year awards, respectively.
Awardees and guests who did not get their invitations may get them at the venue.