Pacquiao leads honorees tonight

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao frontlines the star-studded list of honorees who will be feted in tonight’s 27th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Corporation (SAC-SMC) All-Cebu Sports Awards at the Casiño Español.

The gala affair spotlighting the best and brightest sports stars of Cebu in 2008 promptly starts at 7 p.m., with Bacolod City Rep. and Philippine Olympic Committe.e (POC) chairman Monico Puentevella as the guest of honor.

Pacquiao, hailed as one of the all-time boxing greats, will be given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his legendary exploits. The General Santos City fighter engraved his name in history books for becoming one of the very few ring gladiators to win three fights in different weight divisions in one year.

Pacquiao retained his WBC super featherweight title with a split decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in their controversial rematch. He went on to snatch David Diaz’s WBC lighweight crown via a brutal ninth round knockout and then leapfrogged two weight categories to deal Oscar de la Hoya the most embarrassing defeat of his career in a welterweight mismatch.

Pacquiao will be joined in the podium by football organizer Jonathan “Maxi” Maximo, wushu philantrophist Francis Onglatco, and Fr. Vicente Uy, SVD, the first Philippine Sports Commissioner (PSC) from Cebu.

Maximo will receive the coveted “Sportsman of the Year” plum, Onglatco will be handed out with the ORLACSAN (Orlando C. Sanchez) Memorial Award, while Fr. Uy is the choice of Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) president John Pages as the “Presidential Awardee.”

Maximo, Onglatco, and Fr. Uy will be commended for their contributions to the development of Cebu sports.

Paralympian Arnold Balais will be elevated into the SAC Hall of Fame for his consistent achievements.

Also to be honored are major awardees, all contenders for the “Athlete of the Year” commendation.

 Major Awardees: Leizl Lumindas-Gitaruelas (athletics), Gregory Slaugher and M. Lhuillier Kwarta-Cebu Niños (basketball), Janelle Tabio and Floria Gutierrez (beach volley), Kimberly Lao (bowling), Donnie Nietes and Gerry Peñalosa (pro boxing), Joseph Sanchez and Kim Steven Yap (chess), Annabelle and Joel Madera (dancesport), Don Bosco Technology Center (football), Irina Gabasa, (golf), Tracy Badonio (gymnastics), Alford Marimon (judo), Juan Antonio Carcel (karting), Vince Marc Tabotabo (lawn tennis), Teodoro Martus (scrabble) Cris Panes (shooting), Loren Dale Echavez (swimming), Michael Motel (table tennis), and Kelly Kaye Rojas (weightlifting).

Special citiations: Lindley Fran Navaja (athletics) Doce Pares of Grandmasters Dionisio “Dionnie” Cañete and Ciriaco “Noy Cacoy” Cañete (arnis), Jusabelle Brillo (beach volley), Jomar Jumapao (bowling), Milan Milendo (pro boxing), Charlea Lagaras (dancesport), Gio Gandiongco (golf), Sidney Metante (karatedo), Paco Rodriguez (karting), Sally Mae Siso (lawn tennis), Seigfred Ornopia and Jon-Jon Adlawan (motocross), Yaw-Yan Cebu ArDigma Martial Arts Federation Inc. of Master Benigno “Ekin” R. Caniga, Jr. and Universal reality Combat Challenge (URCC) of Renault Lao (mixed martial arts), Angelic Lado (weightlifting), Luis Ansag (wrestling), and Rachel Ng.