Petecio, 11 others PSA major awardees

MANILA, Philippines — Nesthy Petecio and Hidilyn Diaz lead 12 personalities to be rendered with major awards in the annual SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel on March 6.

The two lady athletes are also members of Team Philippines which will be honored with the coveted Athlete of the Year award on account of its successful regaining of the SEAG overall championship.

Petecio, 27, won the featherweight gold in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia, while Diaz, 29, and silver medal winner in the 2016 Rio Olympics, bagged a silver in the Asian Championships and a pair of bronze in the World Weightlifting Championships.

The country’s first qualifier in the Tokyo Olympics in pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena is also a major awardee for topping the qualifying meet in Chiara, Italy. He also won golds in the Asian Athletics Championship and the Summer Universiade.

Two other world boxing champions are also in the honor roll list in reigning International Boxing Federation super-flyweight title holder Jerwin Ancajas and World Boxing Organization bantamweight king Johnriel Casimero.

Not to be left out are major awardees in basketball composed of sixth-time UAAP women’s champion National University, five-time PBA Philippine Cup winner San Miguel Beermen, and five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.

Completing the list of major awardees are golfers Juvic Pagunsan, Aidric Chan, and Princess Superal, and Horse of the Year Union Bell.