MANILA, Philippines – Ang kauna-unahang Olympic silver medalist ng bansa ay gugunitain kasama ang iba pang pumanaw na sports personalities sa Annual Awards Night ng Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) na inihahandog ng Milo at San Miguel Corp. bukas sa 1Esplanade sa Pasay City.
Ang amateur boxer na si Anthony Villanueva, nagbigay sa Pilipinas ng unang Olympic silver medal noong 1964 Tokyo Games, ay bahagi ng 18 pang sports personality na pumanaw noong 2014.
Ang iba pang aalalahanin sa Feb. 16 formal affair na itinataguyod ng Meralco, Smart at MVP Sports Foundation Inc. bilang mga principal sponsors at ng Philippine Sports Commission bilang major sponsor ay sina cage legend Kurt Bachmann Jr., champion racer Enzo Pastor, dating PBA player Bryan Gahol, ex-PBA player at chairman Ely Capacio at si many-time Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner Leonardo ‘Dodong’ Andam.
Ang iba pang nasa posthumous list ay sina Olympian Florentino Bautista Jr., young national snooker player Rodolfo Lordan, Jr. dating government official at UE Red Warriors team manager Jesus Tanchanco Jr., road cyclist Vicmar Vicente, PSC executive Manny Ibay, one-time sports deputy minister at coach Elpido Dorotheo, ex-Philippine Volleyball Federation president Pete Mendoza, Rizal province track and field coach Pacifico Tolentino Jr., race car driver Isabelo Hilario at volleyball player Nicolette Tabafunda.
Gugunitain din sina sportswriting colleague at members Ceferino ‘Howie’ Basilio Jr. and Danny Romero.
Ang tropeo at isang minutong katahimikan ang iaalay sa kanila sa nasabing two-hour ceremony na suportado rin ng 1Esplanade, Air21, Globalport, National University, El Jose Catering, PAGCOR, PCSO, ICTSI, Rain or Shine, Accel, Maynilad at ng PBA.
Ang mangunguna sa honor roll list ay si BMX rider Daniel Caluag, kumuha ng gold medal sa Incheon Asian Games na nagbigay sa kanya ng PSA Athlete of the Year trophy.
Si Richie Garcia, ang pinakamatagal na nagsisilbing PSC chairman, ay ang special keynote speaker.