Atletang Pinoy, bibida sa ‘Gabi ng Parangal’ ng PSA

Ni Edwin G. Rollon

HINDI matatawaran ang sakripisyo ng atletang Pinoy para sa hangaring mabigyan ng karangalan at dangal ang bayan.

Matalo man o manalo, nararapat na bigyan nang pagpapahalaga ang kanilang pagpupursige at pagpupunyagi para sa sambayanan. Itinuturing bayani ang Pambansang Atleta at walang kapantay na parangal ang makatatapat sa pedestal na kanilang naabot para maiwagayway ang bandila ng Pilipinas sa torneo sa abroad.

Muli, sa pangangasiwa ng mga miyembro at opisyal ng Philippine Sportswriters Association, nakatakdang bumida ang mga natatanging atleta na nagpamalas ng katatagan, determinasyon at character sa harap nang mga world-class athletes sa gaganaping Annual Awards Night ngayon sa Maynila Hall ng makasaysayang Manila Hotel.

Pangungunahan nina boxing world champion Jerwin Ancajas, bowling queen Krizziah Lyn Tabora, at billiards king Carlo Biado ang talaan ng mga maningning na atleta sa nakalipas na taon bilang PSA-Tapa King Athlete of the Year awardee ng pinakamatandang media organization sa bansa sa pagtataguyod ng MILO at Cignal TV.

Ipinapalagay na ‘next Pacman’, ang tubong Panabo, Davao del Norte na si Ancajas matapos ang tatlong sunod na pagdepensa sa kanyang International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight title.

Muli namang pumailanlang sa mundo ng bowling ang Pilipinas nang tanghaling reyna si Tabora sa 53rd QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, habang nasundan ni Biado ang mga yapak ng mga idolong sina Bata Reyes, Django Bustamante, Dennis Orcullo at Alex Pagulayan bilang world 9-Ball king.

Magbibigay din ng kanilang pagkilala ang mga pangunahing sports officials sa bansa tulad nina Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, bagong halal na Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas, at out-going POC chief at dating Congressman Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco.

Kabuuang 105 atleta ang tatanggap ng parangal ngayong taon.

“On behalf of the PSA, we would like to congratulate all of our awardees. May they continue to inspire their fellow athletes in the hope of further uplifting the state of Philippine sports,” pahayag ni PSA president Dodo Catacutan ng Spin.ph.

Naimbitahan naman bilang guest of honor at keynote speaker si Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol, isang dating sportswriter at columnist sa pahayagang Tempo/Manila Bulletin.

Suportado rin ang programa ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Mighty Sports, Smart, Rain or Shine, at Globalport.

Tatanggap ng President’s Award si sportsman-businessman Manny V. Pangilinan na nanguna sa matagumpay na kampanya ng bansa para makuha ang 2023 FIBA World Cup hosting.

Kapwa naman tinanghal na Executive of the Year sina San Miguel Corp. big boss Ramon S. Ang at Standard Insurance’s Jude Echauz.

Tinanghal na National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year ang Triathlon Association of the Philippines, habang pagkakalooban ng Lifetime Achievement Award si People’s Journal boss Augusto ‘Gus’ Villanueva.

Ibibigay naman ang special awards kina June Mar Fajardo (Mighty Sports Mr. Basketball), Marck Espejo and Dawn Macandili (Mr and Ms. Volleyball), and Clyde Mondilla (Mr. Golf), gayundin kay basketball star Terrence Romeo, bilang Mr. Fan Favorite “Manok ng Bayan’ Award.

Tatanggap din ng major awards ang iba pang natatanging atleta, gayundin ang Tony Siddayao Awards at MILO Junior Athletes of the Year, at bibigyan ng citations ang mga medalist sa Southeast Asian Games at ASEAN Para Games.

Narito ang kompletong listahan ng mga awardees.

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Jerwin Ancajas, Krizziah Lyn Tabora, Carlo Biado

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: 2023 FIBA World Cup Philippine bid team

MR. BASKETBALL: June Mar Fajardo

MR. VOLLEYBALL: Marck Espejo

MS. VOLLEYBALL: Dawn Macandili

MR. GOLF: Clyde Mondilla

NSA OF THE YEAR: Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP)

EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR:

Ramon S. Ang and Ernesto “Judes” Echauz

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Augusto “Gus” Villanueva

MAJOR AWARDS

Leo Austria, Thirdy Ravena, Mary Joy Tabal, Eric Shauwn Cray,Trenten Anthony Beram, Milan Melindo, Team Manila, Masato Fernando, John Alvin Guce, Sepfourteen (Horse of the Year)

MR. FAN FAVORITE “MANOK NG BAYAN” AWARD: Terrence Romeo (basketball)

CITATIONS

Donnie Nietes, Joey Antonio, Margaret Ochoa, Annie Ramirez, EJ Obiena, Carlos Yulo, Toni Leviste, Kareel Meer Caniezo Hongitan, Jan Paul Morales,

Eduard Folayang, Ivan Malig, Arnel Mandal, Divine Wally, Jomar Balangui, Pauline del Rosario, Bianca Pagdanganan, Elien Rose Perez, Veronica Ompod, Jacob Ang, Milo Rivera, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Centennial III, Cignal, Ceres Negros FC, Philippine softball team, Philippine women’s football team,

Shell National Youth Active Chess

2017 SEA GAMES GOLD MEDALISTS

Trenten Anthony Beram, Aries Toledo, Eric Shauwn Cray, Mary Joy Tabal, Nikko Huelgas, Kim Mangrobang, Eumir Felix Marcial, John Marvin, Brennan Louie, Reyland Capellan, Kaitlin de Guzman, Agatha Wong (wushu), Carlo Biado, Chezka Centeno, Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), Mariya Takahashi, Dines Dumaan, Samuel Morrison, Philippine men’s poomsae team (Rodolfo Reyes Jr., Dustin Jacob Mella and Raphael Enrico Mella), Philippine lawn bowls men’s fours (Emmanuel Portacio, Ronald Lising, Leoncio Carreon Jr. and Curte Robert Guari), Philippine ice hockey team, and Philippine men’s basketball team.

2017 ASEAN PARA GAMES GOLD MEDALISTS

Cielo Honasan, Cendy Asusano, Prudencia Panaliga, Rosalie Torrefiel, Sander Severino, Philippine men’s chess team standard B2/B3 (Menandro Redor, Arman Subaste, Israel Peligro), Philippine men’s chess team standard/rapid P1 (Sander Severino, Henry Roger Lopez, Felix Aguilera), Gary Bejino, Ernie Gawilan, Arthus Bucay, Christopher Yue, Josephine Medina, Adeline Ancheta

MILO JUNIOR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR:

Maurice Sacho Ilustre, Allaney Jia Doroy, Kyla Soguilon

TONY SIDDAYAO AWARDS

Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Marc Bryan Dula, Jerald Jacinto, Francis Obiena, Veruel Verdadero, Jose Jerry Belibestre, Kenneth dela Peña, John Vincent Pangga, Bryan Otico, Alexandra Eala, Juan Francisco Baniqued, Karen Manayon, Al-Basher Buto, Jerlyn Mae San Diego, Mary Angeline Alcantara, Johnzenth Gajo, Mark Lester Ragay.