PSA to confer posthumous awards in rites

MANILA, Philippines - A long list of personalities composed of prominent athletes and friends of sports, will be given tribute posthumously in Saturday’s PSA-Milo Annual Awards Night at the grand ballroom of the Manila Hotel.

Two-time Olympian Enrique Beech, who also became a well-known football player, former basketball star Roehl Nadurata, cycling legend Manuel “Maui” Reynante, and popular broadcaster and sports columnist Butch Maniego are among the celebrated ones who departed on a year when a number of deaths marred local sports.

Also to be honored posthumously are former editor and columnist Clarito Samson, Leo Reyes of the Philippines News Agency, photographer Oscar Estabaya of Malaya, columnist and tennis organizer Ajay Pathak, and former editor and People’s Journal assistant editor Zean Macamay.

The others to be remembered by the country’s oldest media organization during the two-hour special affair are TV sports reporter Maan Panganiban, Bless Del Rosario of the Philippine Sports Commission chairman’s office, Nenita “Neth” Mendoza of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, basketball tournament organizer Joey Lim, trackster Nanette Lusterio, Bert Landero of softball, cagers Nap Flores and Eduardo Baldomero, and pro boxer Karlo Maquinto.

A prayer and a minute of silence will be offered to all of them in the early part of the gala night to be aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by Senator Chiz Escudero, San Miguel Corp., Smart, Meralco, the Philippine Basketball Association, Globalport 900 Inc., Rain or Shine, SM Prime Holdings, ICTSI and Philippine Golf Tour, Philippine Sports Commission and LBC.

“The entire PSA family and Philippine sports in general, are one in extolling our departed brothers and sisters, who had touched our lives at one time or another,” said PSA president Rey Bancod of Tempo.

The affair starts at 7:30 p.m. with basketball great Benjie Paras and Ai dela Cruz as masters of ceremonies.

Live performance will be provided by the beauteous Isabelle de Leon.

Guest of honor and speaker, sportsman-businessman Mikee Romero, will join Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia in honoring the top achievers of 2012.

At the helm of the 59 awardees are boxers Nonito Donaire Jr. and Josie Gabuco, the Manila women’s softball team, and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, all of whom will share the Athlete of the Year plum.