Ex-Olympian leads posthumous honorees

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s first ever Olympic silver medalist leads those to be honored posthumously by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) when it holds its Annual Awards Night co-presented by Milo and San Miguel Corp tomorrow at the 1Esplanade in Pasay.

Anthony Villanueva, who provided the Philippines its very first Olympic silver medal during the 1964 Tokyo Games, is part of the 18 friends of local sports who passed away in 2014.

Others to be remembered in the Feb. 16 formal affair which has Meralco, Smart, and MVP Sports Foundation Inc. for principal sponsors and the Philippine Sports Commission as major sponsor are cage legend Kurt Bachmann Jr., champion racer Enzo Pastor, former PBA player Bryan Gahol, ex-PBA player and chairman Ely Capacio,  and many-time Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner Leonardo “Dodong” Andam.

Also in the posthumous list are Olympian Florentino Bautista Jr., young national snooker player Rodolfo Lordan Jr., former government official and UE Red Warriors team manager Jesus Tanchanco Jr., road cyclist Vicmar Vicente, PSC executive Manny Ibay, one-time sports deputy minister and coach Elpidio Doroteo, ex-Philippine Volleyball Federation president Pete Mendoza, Rizal province track and field coach Pacifico Tolentino Jr., race car driver Isabelo Hilario, promising volleyball player Nicolette Tabafunda and sportswriters  Ceferino “Howie” Basilio Jr. and Danny Romero.

Trophy and a minute of silence will be offered to them during the two-hour ceremony also supported by 1Esplanade, Air21, Globalport, National University, El Jose Catering, Pagcor, PCSO, ICTSI, Rain or Shine, Accel, Maynilad and the PBA.

Leading the year’s honor roll is BMX rider Daniel Caluag, whose gold medal exploit in last year’s Incheon Asian Games clinched for him the PSA Athlete of the Year trophy.

Richie Garcia, the longest serving PSC chairman, is the special keynote speaker during the program to be hosted by veteran sportscasters Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez Hizon.

Regaling the awardees and guests is two-time UAAP cheerdance competition champion NU.

Invitations had already been sent out, but those who failed to personally receive theirs, can get them at the lobby entrance.