PSA fetes sports heroes tonight

CEBU, Philippines - The top achievers of Philippine sports in the year just passed get its well-deserved recognition as the country’s sportswriting fraternity honors them in formal rites today during the 2010 PSA-Coca-Cola Annual Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Reigning world 9-ball champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Asian Games gold medal winners Rey Saludar, Biboy Rivera and Dennis Orcollo take center stage in the elegant ceremony that starts at 8 p.m., for sharing the distinction of being named Athletes of the Year by the oldest media organization in the land.

The four lead a stellar cast of 49 personalities and entities comprising the list of Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) awardees to be feted during the yearly program presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), San Miguel Corp., Samsung, AirAsia-ABL-Harbour Centre, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR), Nihao Mineral Resources International Inc., Accel, and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).

Leading in honoring the distinguished Filipino athletes is boxing superstar and global icon Manny Pacquiao. The congressman from the province of Sarangani is the first active athlete to become guest of honor and main speaker in the rites hosted by well-known sportscasters Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon.

The guests list is also a virtual who’s who in Philippine sports as expected to grace the affair includes Senators and sportsmen Chiz Escudero and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Smart and PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the country, PSC chairman Richie Garcia and commissioners Chito Loyzaga, Akiko Thomson, Jolly Gomez and Salvador Andrada, together with the heads of the various National Sports Associations (NSAs).

PSA president Teddyvic Melendres of the Philippine Daily Inquirer is again reminding all honorees and guests who failed to get their invitation to please secure it at the PSA main reception desk just outside the entrance of the Centennial Hall.

Serenading the awardees and the rest of the guests is charming singer-actress Karylle.

DZSR Sports Radio 918 will broadcast the ceremony live from the awards’ venue.

Among the notable achievers to be honored include the highly popular Philippine men’s football team, collectively called Azkals (PSA Presidential Achievement Award), and its soft-spoken team manager Dan Palami (Executive of the Year).

Also receiving awards are the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (National Sports Association of the Year), billiards icon Efren “Bata” Reyes and former FIDE president Florencio Campomanes (Hall of Fame), legendary coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan and renowned international referee Carlos Padilla Jr. (Lifetime Achievement award).

There will be 15 recipients of major awards led by world champion men’s poomsae team, boxing titleholders Nonito Donaire Jr., Donnie Nietes and Ana Julaton, the silver medal winners of the last Asiad, among others.

Rising basketball star Kiefer Ravena heads the five-man list of Tony Siddayao honorees, while 18 others are going to receive citations from the media group first founded in 1949. 

Likewise to be given short tribute are some of the departed friends of Philippine sports, that include Florencio Campomanes, golfing great Celestino Tugot and sports editors Dina Marie Villena, Willie Caballes and Emmanuel Perez de Tagle.

2010 PSA List of Awardees:

Athletes of the Year – Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Dennis Orcollo, Rey Saludar, Biboy Rivera

PSA Presidential Achievement Award – Philippine men’s football team (Azkals)

Executive of the Year – Dan Palami.

Major Awardees – National men’s poomsae team, national women’s basketball team, national men’s chess team, Warren Kiamco, Miguel Tabuena, Annie Albania, Nonito Donaire Jr., Ana Julaton, Donnie Nietes, Angelo Que, James Yap, RR Garcia, Yes Pogi, Jesse Guce, Maico Buncio

National Sports Association of the Year – Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP)

Hall of Fame – Efren “Bata” Reyes, Florencio Campomanes

Lifetime Achievement Award – Carlos Padilla Jr., Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan

Tony Siddayao Awards – Kiefer Ravena, Malvinne Ann Alcala, Andie Unson, John Keithley Chan, Jerrick Mitra

Citations – Philippine Patriots, Davis Cup, Ateneo Blue Eagles, Ateneo Blue Eaglets, San Beda Red Lions, Kenneth San Andres, Marlon Stockinger, Ronald Salvador, Artemio Murakami, Cyna Rodriguez, Mia Piccio, SMART Sports, ICTSI, Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA), Milo Marathon, Araw ng Kagitingan Ultra Marathon, Jerick Ternida.