PSA to pay tribute to fallen heroes

The Philippine Sportswriters Association will pay homage to fallen sports heroes who played for flag and country in international competitions during the PSA 2002 Annual Sports Awards Night Jan. 10 at the Holiday Inn Manila.

Twelve sports greats who distinguished themselves in various fields during their lifetime will receive posthumous awards from the country’s oldest news organization during the Awards Night, which will have President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor and speaker.

The awardees, who passed away in 2002, are former Olympians Charlie Badion, Eddie Decena, Ben Francisco, Eddie Lim and Martin Urra, and former RP team members Alex Clarino, Jack Tanuan and Zaldy Zschornack.

Also to be awarded are former Philippine Chess Federation president Art Borjal, former Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose C. Sering, former Tempo sports editor Rudy Navarro and former chess Olympian Ben Flores.

The Awards Night, which will be attended by sports leaders from the private and government sectors, is sponsored by Red Bull and Photokina and supported by San Miguel Corporation, Samsung, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Sports Commission and Adidas.

Badion, known for his bicycle drives during his heyday, was member of the RP team that finished seventh in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He also played for the RP team in the 1959 Chile World Championships and 1960 Rome Olympics and was a member of the RP team that won the gold medal in the 1958 Tokyo Asian Games.

Decena was member of the RP team to the 1948 London Olympics while Francisco, father of Sta. Lucia cager Gerard Francisco, played in the 1954 World Basketball Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lim also played in the 1959 World Championships, 1952 Helsinki Olympics and 1956 Melbourne Olympics and was member of the RP team that won the gold in the 1954 and 1958 Asian Games and 1960 ABC Championships.

Urra, also an Olympian, was a member of the La Salle Green Archers and Yco Painters

Clarino, who played with Apcor in the MICAA and Ginebra, Gilbey’s Gin and Tanduay in the PBA, was member of the RP team that won the gold in the 1977 Southeast Asian Games.

Tanuan, a former Trinity College and FEU player, suited for the RP squad that took the bronze in the 1986 Asian Games, while Zshornack, a popular movie star, was an avid golfer who played for the country in the Putra Cup.

Flores was member of the RP team to the 1998 World Chess Olympiad in Kalmykia, Russia.