MANILA, Philippines - Other than the gold medalists in the 26th Southeast Asian Games, six other personalities have been deemed worthy of being given special citations by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA).
Four-time UAAP men’s basketball champion Ateneo Blue Eagles and back-to-back NCAA men’s basketball titleholder San Beda Red Lions are likewise being cited for their quest for excellence a year ago that saw them emerged as two of the country’s top collegiate cage powers.
Together with duathlete Lea Coline Langit, Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra, and sixth ASEAN Para Games multiple gold medal winners Josephine Medina and Ernie Gawilan, the Eagles, Lions, and the 26th SEA Games gold medalists in Indonesia make up the list of citations to be handed out by the country’s oldest media organization when it holds its much-awaited Annual Awards Night on March 3 at the Manila Hotel.
Leading the honor roll in the formal affair presented by Smart are boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and world No. 1 billiards player Dennis Orcollo, who share the distinction as co-winners of the 2011 Athlete of the Year award.
Vice President Jejomar Binay serves as the special guest speaker in the annual rite also presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), SM Prime Holdings, Milo, ICTSI, Harbour Centre, and Coca-Cola.
DZSR Sports Radio 918 will air the event live.
Langit did the country proud by bagging the gold in the Asian Aquathlon event of the Mekong River Multi-Sports Festival in Thailand, while Sadorra became the country’s latest grandmaster when he earned his third and final GM norm in the 10th round of the UT Dallas Spring Invitational GM tournament in North Dallas, Texas.
Medina and Gawilan, meanwhile, stood at the forefront of the country’s campaign in the ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia.
Gawilan won three golds in swimming, while Medina bagged four golds in table tennis as the two steered Team Philippines to a fifth place finish in the meet with a medal tally of 23-23-18.
Awardees
Athletes of the Year: Dennis Orcollo, Nonito Donaire Jr.
PSA Presidential Achievement Award: Juvic Pagunsan
Executive of the Year: Ricky Vargas
Major Awardees: Brian Villoria (pro boxing), Ana Julaton (pro boxing),Donnie Nietes (pro boxing), Mark Anthony Barriga (amateur boxing), Efren `Bata’ Reyes (billiards), Rubilen Amit (billiards), Jessie Aligaga (wushu),Dembert Arcita (wushu), Dragon Boat team, Jimmy Alapag (pro basketball), Calvin Abueva (amateur basketball), Bobby Parks Jr.(amateur basketball), Jhonnel Ababa (pro golf), Dottie Ardina (amateur golf), Rupert Zaragosa (amateur golf), Magna Carta (Horse of the Year), Jesse Guce (Jockey of the Year), Kenneth San Andres (motocross), Malvinne Ann Alcala (badminton)
National Sports Associations of the Year: Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines (BSCP), Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP)
Tony Siddayao Award: Eumir Marcial, Markie Alcala, Raymond Debuque, Jeron Teng, Rustom Lim
Mr. Football: Phil Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong
Special Citation: 26th Southeast Asian gold medalists, Ateneo Blue Eagles, San Beda Red Lions, Lea Coline Langit, Julio Catalino Sadorra, Josephine Medina, Ernie Gawilan