PSA fetes Pacquiao, 2008 top achievers

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sportswriters Association honors the top athletes in 2008 in simple rites tonight in the San Miguel Corp.-PSA Annual Awards Night at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel.

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, heads the 60-man honor roll list as the Athlete of the Year for sweeping his three fights in different weight divisions, including a sensational eighth-round TKO of legendary Oscar dela Hoya.

Apart from taking the year’s top award, the 30-year-old Gen. Santos native is also set to be enshrined to the PSA Hall of Fame.

Business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan is the guest of honor and speaker in the special program that starts at 8 p.m., and will be joined by the country’s top sports leaders led by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping and International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde in paying tribute to the Filipino athletes who did us proud last year.

Pangilinan is also the recipient of the Sports Patron of the Year award.

Led by the reigning Women’s World Cup of Golf champion Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, 11 personalities will receive a major award from the country’s oldest media organization during the affair also sponsored by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918.

The rest of the major awardees include two other golfers in Angelo Que and Dottie Ardina, cager Kelly Williams, young chess grandmaster Wesley So, wushu bet Willy Wang, pool star Dennis Orcollo, world champion Nonito Donaire Jr, champion jockey Jonathan Hernandez and horses Go Army and Ibarra.

Senator Manny Villar is this year’s choice for the President’s Award, while Wushu Federation of the Philippines is the Outstanding national sports association (NSA).

Rising basketball star Norberto Torres and golfer AR Ramos share the Tony Siddayao Award to be given in the course of the program supported by Villar Foundation, Sen. Francis Escudero, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Shakey’s, Accel, PBA, PBL, NCRAA, PCSO, SBP, Purefoods, Ginebra, Alaska, Sta. Lucia, Rain or Shine, Ever Bilena, Harbour Centre, Liga Pilipinas, Secretary Lito Atienza, Pharex, GAB and Mighty Sports Association.

Hosting the affair are veteran broadcasters and media personalities Ed Piczon and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon.

Awardees and guests who failed to receive their invitations may get it at the reception area of the Alegria Lounge.