THE country’s top sports officials will be on hand when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) honors the top athletes of 2015 in its Annual Awards Night, presented by Milo and San Miguel Corp., on Saturday at the One Esplanade.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Ricardo Garcia will lead the local sports community in recognizing the achievements and success of Filipino athletes in the year that passed.
World boxing champions Nonito Donaire Jr. and Donnie Nietes, and golf star Miguel Tabuena top the long list of awardees—111 in all—who will be feted during the gala night to be hosted by Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon.
Also invited in the affair that starts at 7 p.m. are International Olympic Committee (IOC) Representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, POC Vice President Joey Romasanta and Chairman Tom Carrasco, PSC Commissioners Jolly Gomez, Buddy Andrada, Akiko Thomson-Guevara and Iggy Clavecilla, Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr., and top officials and representatives of the various national sports associations (NSAs).
The two-hour formal program has the PSC as major sponsor and National University, One Esplanade, Rain or Shine, GlobalPort, Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philracom, Sen. Chiz Escudero, SM Prime Holdings, Maynilad, MVP Foundation and Smart as supporters.
Awardees and guests who did not get their invitations could claim theirs at the lobby of One Esplanade.
The awardees:
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: Nonito Donaire Jr., Donnie Nietes, Miguel Tabuena
PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Gilas Pilipinas
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: Wilfred Uytengsu Jr.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Filomena “Boy” Codiñera
NSA OF THE YEAR: Wushu Federation of the Philippines
BASKETBALL: Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva
VOLLEYBALL: Alyssa Valdez
MAJOR AWARDS: June Mar Fajardo (pro basketball), Mark Belo (amateur basketball), Mark Cruz (amateur basketball), Eric Shauwn Cray (athletics), Amaya Paz-Cojuangco (archery), Chezka Centeno (billiards), Santy Barnachea (cycling), Cyna Rodriguez (pro golf), Princess Mary Superal (amateur golf), Jonathan Hernandez (horseracing), Raniel Resuello (motorsports), Katharina Lehnert (tennis), Alberto “AJ” Lim Jr. (tennis), Divine Wally (wushu), Arnel Mandal (wushu).
CITATIONS: Singapore 27th Southeast Asian Games and Asean Para Games gold medalists, Mary Joy Tabal, Rafael Poliquit, Philippine archery team, Kobe Paras, Batang Gilas, Perlas Blackwater Team, Philippine Dragon Boat team, Kristina Charisse Santiago, Kenneth San Andres, Milo Rivera, Ernesto “Judes” Echauz, Michael Christian Martinez, Hagen Alexander Topacio, Petron Blaze Spikers, Hidilyn Diaz, Nestor Colonia, ALA Promotions, International Premier Tennis League, Manila North 3×3 Team, MVP Sports Foundation, NU Pep Squad, Philippine baseball team, Philippine powerlifting team, Philippine Superliga, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., Jean Henri Lhuillier and tennis patrons, and 2019 Fiba World hosting team and National University Ever Bilena women’s team.
MILO JUNIOR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: Justine Kobe Macario and Kyla Soguilo.
TONY SIDDAYAO AWARD: Pauline del Rosario, Abegail “Abby” Arevalo, Jacob Ang, Maurice Sacho Ilustre, Nicole Pamintuan, Miguel Barreto, Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Sean Terence Zamora and Nicole Eijansantos.
POSTHUMOUS AWARDS: Ronald Charles “Ron” Jacobs, Enrique “Henry” Cojuangco Senior, Arturo “Art” Macapagal, Lim Eng Beng, Servillano Aquino Padiz Jr., Ramil Cruz, Ireneo “Nayong” Federigan and Jose “Jun” Castro Jr.