Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao banners the 68 sports figures and personalities to be feted by the country’s oldest media organization composed of sportswriters from the national broadsheets and tabloids.
Pacquiao, considered one of the biggest attractions in the boxing world today and among the best fighters, pound for pound, is the recipient of the Athletes of the Year award, an honor he shares with seven others — billiards legend Efren "Bata" Reyes, World Pool champion Ronnie Alcano, bowler Biboy Rivera, and the Doha Asian Games gold medal quartet of Joan Tipon, Violito Payla, Antonio Gabica and Rene Catalan.
A once-in-a-lifetime award — Bayani ng Lahi — will also be conferred on the 28-year-old Pacquiao for his inspiring two knockout victories over Mexican boxing legend Erik Morales that capped a banner year for RP sports.
On hand to lead in honoring last year’s sports heroes is Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, who is the guest of honor in the event to be aired live over DZSR Sports Radio and telecast on NBN-4 on a delayed basis.
San Miguel Corp. chief operation officer and president Ramon Ang will deliver an inspirational speech during the 3-5 p.m. affair.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, presidential assistant for youth and sports Ali Atienza and the country’s other top sports officials are also expected to grace the program sponsored by San Miguel Corp., SM Mall of Asia, PSC, POC, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philippine Basketball League (PBL), Welcoat Paints of owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que, Mikee Romero’s Harbour Centre, Teletech, sportsman Hermie Esguerra, Air21, NBN-4 and DZSR Sports Radio.
PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad and Gretchen Malalad, a multi-titled karateka in the Southeast Asian Games, host the affair.
Following the program proper is a post-event party to be directed by famed concert organizer Sazi Cosino, with top bands The Dawn, Mojofly, Rocksteddy, Join the Club, Dream Kitchen and Pancake 80 performing.
Basketball stars James Yap (pro) and Kenneth Bono (amateur) lead five others who will be bestowed major awards, among them are golfers Juvic Pagunsan (pro) and Dottie Ardina (amateur), Santy Barnachea (cycling), jockey Jonathan Hernandez (horseracing) and Real Spicy (horseracing).
The PSA President’s Award is given to Mt. Everest climbers Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata and Romy Garduce while golf kids Cyna Rodriguez and Mia Legaspi and young chess prodigy Wesley So are going to receive the Antonio Siddayao Award.
The Doha Asiad silver and bronze medalists lead the 32 recipients of citations, legendary golfer Ben Arda and two-time PSA president Bert Cuevas will be honored with the Posthumous Award along with seven others, while the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) are the year’s Most Outstanding NSAs.
Also to be feted are former FIDE president Florencio Campomanes (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre (Hall of Fame).
The Complete List Of Awardees
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR – Manny Pacquiao,Violito Payla, Ronnie Alcano, Joan Tipon, Biboy Rivera, Antonio Gabica , Efren "Bata" Reyes, Rene Catalan
BAYANI NG LAHI AWARD — Manny Pacquiao
MAJOR AWARDS – James Yap (pro basketball), Ken Bono (amateur basketball), Juvic Pagunsan (pro golf), Dottie Ardina (amateur golf), Santy Barnachea (cycling), JB Hernandez (horseracing), Real Spicy (horseracing)
PSA PRESIDENT’S AWARD – Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata, Romy Garduce
ANTONIO SIDDAYAO AWARD – Cyna Rodriguez, Mia Legaspi, Wesley So
CITATIONS – Marie Antoinette Rivero, Tshomlee Go, Maria Marna Pabillore, Eduard Folayang, Jeffrey "Bata" de Luna, Cecil Mamiit, Eric Taino, Kathleen Allora, Veronica Domingo, Manuel Rivero Jr, Godfrey Castro, Jenibert Basadre, Michael Bibat, Noel Espinosa, Ramon Ang — SMC, Debbie de Villa, Ryan Mendoza, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, AF3, Wushu team, Erlina Pecante, Enrique Rafael Rosales, Mateo Guidecelli, Dragon Boat team, Yen Makabenta, Juanito Mingarine, Daniel Damaso, Philippine Football Federation, NBN-4, DZSR Sports Radio, MASCO, Amaya Paz
SPECIAL AWARD – Recah Trinidad and Anvil Publishing
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Florencio Campomanes
HALL OF FAME – Eugene Torre
POSTHUMOUS AWARDS – Ben Arda, Bert Cuevas, Carlos Santos, Bana Sailani, Alex Arroyo, Redan Lopez, Rodrigo Abaquita, Deo Espinosa, Willy Victoria
MOST OUTSTANDING NSAs–Billiards, Boxing