PSA honors the best tonight

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Asian Games equestrian gold medalist Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski lead a bumper crop of sports stars who will be feted in formal ceremonies during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards tonight, starting at 7 at the Coral Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Manila.

Pacquiao and Cojuangco will receive the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards as top athletes of 2002 in rites to be graced by sports leaders, corporate sponsors, and members of the country’s oldest news organization.

The hosts are basketball star Alex Compton and sportscaster Patricia Bermudez. It will be telecast by NBN-4.

The PSA is presenting major awards to top achievers in professional and amateur basketball, bowling, billiards, boxing, golf and horse of the year and citations to Asian Games silver and bronze medalists and winners in international competitions.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been invited to be the main guest of honor and speaker. Other sports leaders in the rites are Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain and House committee on youth and sports chair Monico Puentevella, Games and Amusements Board chairman Eduardo Villanueva, Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit, International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde and presidents of the national sports associations.

Also invited are former International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Florencio Campomanes, former PSC chairman Philip Ella Juico, former Project: Gintong Alay executive director Michael Keon, former POC president Julian Malonzo and former GAB chairman and PSC commissioner Dominador Cepeda.

Awardees who have not received their invitations are requested to pick them up at the reception table before 7 p.m. Attire is formal.The awards night is sponsored by Red Bull, Agfa and Photokina and supported by Samsung, San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Sports Commission and Adidas.

The complete list of awardees:

Top Athletes: Manny Pacquiao (boxing); Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski (equestrian);

Major Awardees: Willie Miller (pro basketball), Enrico Villanueva (amateur basketball), Django Bustamante/Antonio Lining, Efren Reyes (billiards), Paeng Nepomuceno/RJ Bautista, Liza del Rosario (bowling), Angelo Que, Dottie Ardina, Jayvie Agojo (amateur golf), Harry Tanamor (amateur boxing), Wind Blown (horse of the year).

PSA President’s Award: Ateneo Blue Eagles/Coach Joel Banal

Special Award: Cris Maralit

Athletes’ Citations:

Asian Games silver medalists: Botchok Rey, CJ Suarez, Chester King (men’s trios, bowling), Warren Kiamco (9 ball singles, billiards), Liza del Rosario, Irene Garcia-Benitez, Liza Clutario, Jojo Canare, Kathlyn Ann Lopez, Cecille Yap (women’s five-player team, bowling), Toni Leviste, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Danielle Cojuangco, Michel Barrera (showjumping team event, equestrian), Marvin Sicomen (52 kg, sanshou, wushu), Rexel Nganhayna (56 kg, sanshou, wushu).

Asian Games bronze medalists: Liza Clutario (ladies singles, bowling), Alvin Amposta-Nestor Cordova (men’s lightweight double sculls, rowing), Jethro Dionisio (men’s individual trap, shooting), Jethro Dionisio, Eric Ang, Jaime Recio (men’s team trap, shooting), Ria Quiazon, Heidi Chua, Carmelette Villaroman (women’s team, golf), Tshomlee Go (men’s flyweight, taekwondo), Daleen Cordero (women’s semiflyweight, taekwondo), Veronica Domingo (women’s welterweight, taekwondo), Dindo Simpao (men’s middleweight, taekwondo), Sally Solis (women’s middleweight, taekwondo), Gretchen Malalad (60kg kumite, karatedo), Cherli Tugday (kata individual, karatedo), Bobby Co (men’s taijiquan, wushu), Eduard Folayang (65 kg, sanshou, wushu), Arvin Ting (changcuan combined 3 events, wushu).

International competitions-winners: Angelo Que, Jerome Delariarte, Juvic Pagunsan, RP golf team, World Amateur Golf), Raul Ramon Arambulo (Asian Archery Championships), Enzo Pastor (Asian Formula Racing), Adeline Dumapong, Africita Salazar, Roderick Canta, Paz Enano (Sports for Specially Abled, FESPIC Games), Marcus Valda (Southeast Asian wrestling), Rener Mercado/Judith Ann Melencio, Bong Marquez/Belinda Adora (Asia-Pacific Dance Sport)

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Jun Bernardino, Rudy Salud, Leo Prieto (individual), Coke Go-for-Goal, Metropolitan Chess Club, Milo, San Miguel Corp. (corporate).

Special Citations: Adidas, Agfa, Dance Sport Council of the Philippines, FedEx, German Initiative in Football Towards Peace in Mindanao (GIFT), Gloria Garchitorena-Goloy/Gregorio Antonio, Kenneth San Andres, Manila Sports Council, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Sports Commission, Red Bull.

Posthumous Awards: Charlie Badion, Art Borjal, Alex Clarino, Eddie Decena, Ben Flores, Ben Francisco, Edilberto Gamilla, Eddie Lim, Rudy Navarro, Vincent Rodriguez, Jose Sering, Jack Tanuan, Martin Urra, Zaldy Zshornack.