Sports icons honored tonite

If sports, as they say, is the most-shared human experience, an unwitting chronicle and a mirror reflecting the times and eras of a nation, then tonight's gathering of the greatest Filipino athletes the past 100 years could well serve as a defining moment for Philippine sports.

They are all here, some in the flesh, some in memories. Filipino icons and stars who, in some sparks of brilliance, made the nation proud, gave it some moments to remember and cherish a shining past.

They, indeed, defied the odds. Some reigned supreme in the realm of the continent, some ruled the world and that made this tribute, this homage, even more meaningful.

These are the Millennium Awardees.

Their feats reflected the temper of the times.

Pancho Villa became the first true Filipino boxing hero, virtually defying colonial rule by winning in America's heartland; swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso was the first Filipino Olympic medalist in 1928 in Amsterdam; a humble, shy Gabriel "Flash" Elorde became the idol of the masses in the 60s and Paeng Nepomuceno projected a new sporting Filipino hero with an enduring skill, winning bowling's World Cup four times in three different decades.

And who could ever forget Lydia De Vega? She raced like the wind, winning the sprint golds in the Asian Games in 1982 in New Delhi and in 1986 in Seoul.

Felicisimo Ampon, the Mighty Mite, was a sight to behold on the tennis turf; Anthony Villanueva was the little Brown Bomber of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, winning a silver medal, a feat duplicated 32 years later by Onyok Velasco in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Caloy Loyzaga was the "Big Difference," whose exploits helped boost Philippine basketball to unprecedented popularity; Bong Coo emerged the winningest Asian Games heroine, and Eugene Torre did the Filipinos proud by being the first Asian grandmaster.

These are the best and the brightest of Philippine sports and it is only fitting that the oldest media aggrupation, the Philippine Sportswriters Association, honors them tonight at the birth of the new millennium.

These are the stars of the show although some contemporary ones, like top awardee and billiards king Efren "Bata" Reyes, will share the limelight as PSA's Athlete of the Year.

San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, representing President Estrada, will present the PSA trophy to Reyes and deliver his father's speech.

To be bestowed the honor of Sports Leaders of the Millennium are Dr. Regino Ylanan (posthumous), Sen. Ambrosio Padilla (posthumous), world chess federation honorary president Florencio Campomanes and basketball's Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat II.

PSA vice-president and Manila Standard sports editor Roberto Cuevas will formally welcome the guests while Manila Bulletin's Ding Marcelo, also the PSA president, will introduce the guest speaker.

The affair will start at 7 p.m.

The ceremonies, sponsored by Agfa Color and Red Bull, will be covered by Vintage Television and aired on IBC-13 on Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The other major awardees are Dorothy Delasin (golf), Benjie Paras (pro basketball), Kerby Raymundo (amateur basketball), Cassius Casas (pro golf), Gerald Rosales (amateur golf), Roberto Cruz (taekwondo), Arlan Lerio (amateur boxing), Joma Gamboa (pro boxing), Jaime Recio (shooting) and Athena Lee (practical shooting). -