24th SAC-SMC Awards set May 22

For the first time in the history of the All-Cebu Sports Awards, the Sportswriters Association of Cebu and San Miguel Corporation will be handing out the coveted "Athlete of Year" award to a group of individuals who have made the country proud in their respective sporting disciplines the past year.

This as all the Cebuano athletes who won gold medals in the 23 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games the country hosted last year will be conferred with the "Athletes of the Year" accolade in the 24th SAC-SMC All-Cebu Sports Award set on May 22 starting at 11 am at the Raja Park Hotel (formerly Park Place Hotel).

Among those who will receive the presitigious commendation are Marniel Dimla (pencak silat), Baby Marites Bitbit (mountainbike), Kevin Kong and Andrea Marie Rafanan (diving), Julius Nierras (athletics), Cresencio Vidal Jnr (sportsclimbing) Ruel Empacis (baseball), and Michael Mendoza (dancesport).



Sharing the spotlight with them are champion softballers in Manuel Bacarisas, Darius Bacarisas, Jasper Cabrera, Ben Maravilles, Roger Roxas, and Florante Acuña.

Former Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Jonathan Guardo was picked as the "Sportsman of the Year."

Aside from his dedicated support and invaluable contribution for the development of Cebu sports in his capacity both as a public official and a private entity, Guardo likewise was widely credited for Cebu's successful hosting of some SEAG events here.

Guardo will share the podium with Japanese national Harou Iwanaga, who will be the recipient of the "Presidental Award," and noted web developer Dong Secuya, who will take home the "ORLACSAN Memorial Award", which is given in memory of the late Orlando C. Sanchez, a legend in the annals of Cebu sportswriting.

Secuya is responsible for launching the www.mannypacqwuiao.ph website in July 2003. At that time, Pacquiao has not yet entered the hallowed portals of fame and the pedestal of success.

In a span of three years, the Pacland website is now a global phenomenon that has generated a cult-like following from millions of boxing fans around the globe.

Secuya delivered his second baby in April last year, the philboxing.com - a thing he created due to public demand. Philboxing.com offers a detailed and comprehensive fight records, photos, news articles, and fight schedules of Filipino boxers with access to other web pages.

It can't be denied that philboxing.com has become an effective channel for the Filipino boxers to be known abroad. Through this web page, boxing scouts, managers, and agents abroad now have an easy access in spotting for potential Filipino talents they could deal with.

The other highlight of the affair is the giving out of "PostHumous" award to the late Atty. Manuel "Manny" Oyson Jr, a highly-distinguished columnist and an institution in the field of Cebu sportswriting.

On the other hand, the recipient of major awards are Clifford Bonjoc and Irin Banluran (athletics), Marites Natad and Florian Gutierrez (beach volleyball), Dearlie Gerodias and Erole Melencio (dancesport), Noel Espinosa (karatedo), Jacob Lagman and Sally Mae Siso (lawn tennis), Niño Surban (mountainbike), John Eleazar Adlawan (motocross), Arnold Balais (paralympics), Metodio Suico and Harrison Castañares (sepak takraw), Lhoriz Echavez and Dianne Cañeda (swimming), and Reynante Briones (weightlifting).

Those who will be given special citations for their feats are Alta Vista's Carl Almario, Ramontito Garcia, Edito Tirol, and Joseph Stevens (golf), Noel Gonzales (paralympics), Gloria Belandres (table tennis), Reynante de la Cerna (scrabble), Judith Sulla (weightlifting), Bernardine "Niño" Siso and John Francis Largo (lawn tennis), Barlo Nadera (chess), Cebu Country Club Pal-Interclub golf champion team, Dancesport-Team Cebu City, Michael Motel, Emmanuel Motel, Glendo Nayre and Jay Irebert Impuesto (table tennis) and the University of the Visayas High School and College Scrabble Teams.

Well-acclaimed sports journalist Joaquin "Quinito" Henson is the honored guest and keynote speaker in the star-studded affair. Henson, considered as "The Dean" in the country's sportswriting fraternity, is a regular sports columnists of The Philippine Star, a sister company of The Freeman.