ABAP chief PSA's exec of year

MANILA, Philippines - As the man at the helm of a sport that consistently produces world-class Filipino athletes, Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas has been the hands down choice of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) as its Executive of the Year for 2011.

Vargas will receive the special honor from the country’s sportwriting community when it holds its Annual Awards Night on March 3 at the Manila Hotel.

The former PBA chairman and board representative of the Talk `N Text team is the second recipient of the honor after Philippine Azkals team manager Dan Palami last year.

“A sports official as esteemed as Mr. Ricky Vargas is truly worthy of the award as the PSA’s Executive of the Year,” said Rey Bancod of Tempo, president of the country’s oldest media organization composed of editors and sports writers from the different national broadsheets and tabloids.

Although known as a corporate executive being president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Maynilad, and as a trusted lieutenant of sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan, also president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), only a handful is aware that Vargas actually is a descendant of one of the country’s early sports leaders.

His grandfather, Jorge Vargas, was a founding member of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (now the Philippine Olympic Committee), becoming its president in 1936, and later earned the distinction of being the first Filipino to be accepted as member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

As recipient of the Executive of the Year award, Vargas shares the spotlight with the top achievers of 2011 led by co-Athletes of the Year Nonito Donaire Jr. and Dennis Orcollo during the annual bash presented by ICTSI, Philippine Sports Commission, Milo, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Basketball Association, Harbour Centre, SM Prime Holdings, Coca-Cola and Smart.

Vice President Jejomar Binay is the special guest of honor and keynote speaker of the two-hour formal ceremony.

Under Vargas’ term last year, ABAP produced the first ever Filipino to win a gold medal in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championship in Eumir Marcial.

Boxer Mark Barriga also became the first Filipino to earn a berth in this year’s London Olympics, while the quartet of Josie Gabuco, Alice Kate Aparri, Charly Suarez and Dennis Galvan produced four gold medals in the boxing event of the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Juvic Pagunsan will be honored with the Presidential Achievement Award, while reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight champion Brian Viloria leads 18 other personalities who will be given major awards.