Sports Awards

Cebu’s top performing athletes and sportsmen for 2009 will be honored tonight in the Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Beer All-Cebu Sports Awards.

The awards ceremony will be held at Casino Español and the guest of honor will be one of the pillars of Cebu sports – boxing patron Antonio ‘Bidoy’ Lopez Aldeguer.

Almost 21 years ago, when I was a very new sportswriter, I met a man who wore black in a boxing promotion at the Cebu Coliseum. I asked him permission that I could take pictures of the bout and he said yes.

Unlike others, he was such a nice man, in fact in the succeeding fights, I’d see him in his black shirt again not only watching intently on the ringside area, but sometimes accompanying the boxer from the dressing room and at times staying by the corner of his fighter.

The man was Ninong Tony, a genuine sportsman, who has been instrumental in making Cebu boxing what it is today.

He is already a hall of famer in the annual awards for having won the sportsman of the year award several times. Tonight, I sincerely hope to make it on time for the ceremonies and my chores at the office will require me to be bound to the desk.

Congratulations to all the honorees!

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Aside from the Pacquiao-Clottey fight on Sunday, there is also another highly-anticipated event on that day – the start of the 2010 Formula-1 season in Bahrain.

This season is very different from the previous ones for several reasons.

The return of Michael Schumacher, who will be behind the wheel for the first car of Team Mercedes, makes it four world champions driving for three teams this season. The others are Fernando Alonso, who is now with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton of McLaren and defending champion Jenson Button also of McLaren.

There are many new teams, new drivers, and drivers moving to another team, which in itself is already quite interesting.

There are also rule changes that are meant not only to save money, but also to make the competition more exciting.

First, there is the no refueling rule, which had altered the designs of the cars, which have been made about a foot longer to accommodate the additional fuel load. 

There will still be pit stops, but only for tire changes, which would mean shorter on cam time for the pit crew.

Then the points system has also been changed. The winner of a race used to earn 10 points while the second to eight placers will get 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 points respectively.

This season, the race winner gets 25 points while the second placer gets 18. Third to eight placers will earn 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1 respectively.

This change will put more weight on winning races and not just being on the podium the most times. 

The F-1 fans, who are also boxing fans, have a long day this Sunday. I can’t wait for the race to start. 

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings go to The Freeman’s most veteran sportswriter, Gabby Malagar, who turns a year older today.

The same goes to Indira ‘Din’ Cañete-Grant, SHS-J’s Stella Saballa-Serrano and Niña Flor Tan.

Tomorrow’s greetings go to Ivy ‘Ibiang’ Cortez, Gina Arjona, and Jo Ann Castillo. 

Congratulations also to Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, commander of the Central Command, who recently earned his third star.

More power to all of you!