PSA honors Hanoi SEA Games medalists

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s gold medal winners in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last year will lead the long list of personalities who will receive citations in the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night on March 6 at the Diamond Hotel grand ballroom.

Olympian boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Rogen Ladon, triple-gold winners Ana Nualla and Sean Aranar of dancesport, and the Gilas Pilipinas women’s team will be cited by the oldest media organization in the country.

The Philippines bagged a total of 52 golds in Hanoi to finish a strong fourth during the biennial meet that was twice rescheduled due to COVID-19 surge in the region.

Other individuals to receive citations are Chezka Centeño, Marie Antoinette San Diego, Efren Bagamasbad, Ronald Lomotos, Philippine Navy Standard Insurance, Philippine pencak silat team, Letran Knights basketball team, Joyce Reboton, Dottie Ardina, Rianne Malixi, Kaizen dela Serna, Andrico Mahilum, Mark Julius Rodelas and Sandi Abahan.

Olympians Hidilyn Diaz, EJ Obiena, and Carlos Yulo, along with other SEA Games gold medal winners Rubilen Amit, Meggie Ochoa, Carlo Biado, Johan Chua, and Vanessa Sarno will no longer receive citations as they’ll be honored with higher awards during the gala night presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, and backed up by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Milo, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Rain or Shine, 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Philippine Basketball Association, OKBet and ICTSI.

Yulo, Obiena, Amit, Biado, Chua, Ochoa and Sarno are part of the group to be feted with major awards while Diaz gets the distinction as the PSA Athlete of the Year for the second straight time.

Other individuals to be cited are Chezka Centeño, Marie Antoinette San Diego, Efren Bagamasbad, Ronald Lomotos, Philippine Navy Standard Insurance, Philippine pencak silat team, Letran Knights basketball team, Joyce Reboton, Dottie Ardina, Rianne Malixi, Kaizen dela Serna, Andrico Mahilum, Mark Julius Rodelas and Sandi Abahan.

Entities receiving the same award are the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Earlier announced as part of the honor roll were tennis prodigy Alex Eala for President’s Award and the late track great Lydia De Vega, who will be inducted in the PSA Hall of Fame.