Spotlight on new batch of Hall of Famers

MANILA, Philippines — Basketball legend Robert Jaworski and Olympic boxing medalists Leopoldo Serrantes and Roel Velasco will lead the 10 Filipino greats that will be enshrined into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) in an online ceremony on Sunday.

Joining the 75-year-old former senator and the two boxers in the fourth batch of inductees are booter Paulino Alcantara, swimmers Eric Buhain and Gertrudes Lozada, long jumper Elma Muros-Posadas, bowler Arianne Cerdena, cager and football coach Dionisio Calvo, and sprinter Rogelio Onofre.

The event will also be aired on PTV-4 starting at 7 p.m.

“Congratulations to all the fourth batch of enshrinees. These heroes and their achievements have become a source of pride and inspiration for us and for the future generation of Filipinos,’’ said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez, who also chairs the PSHOF with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino as vice-chair.

“I definitely appreciate the work of the committee for this recognition of our sports heroes, which serves as inspiration to all,” Tolentino said.

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Abraham Mitra and POC secretary-general Atty. Ed Gastanes and PhilCycing secretary-general Atty. Billy Sumagui served as members of the selection committee of the PSHOF, which was established via Republic Act 8757.

“It was a journey of discovery. I would like to thank everyone for all their work. It is very enriching for me to be part of this,” said Ramirez. “I am pleased with the choices of both the review and selection committees.”

The 10 inductees will receive P200,000 each plus a well-crafted PSHOF trophy.

Serrantes and Velasco gained outright slots to the PSHOF after the PSC decided to seed all Olympic medalists. They copped a bronze medal each in the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, respectively.