SAC recognizes Cebu’s best

They’re the best of Cebu Sports and we, the Cebu sportswriters, have been following their careers all these years. They’ve carried the colors of Cebu Sports with great pride and the sportswriters have seen them in action, have written about them and have shared all their ups and downs with them.

 And so at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the Sportswriters Association of Cebu will do one more thing: recognize the best of the best from the year 2014 in a formal awarding/recognition ceremony at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Area. For the 33rd time, the SAC and San Miguel Brewery Inc. get together again to cite the biggest performers of last year in what is called the SAC-SMB Awards Cebu Sports Awards. The Ayala Center Cebu also partners with us in this annual venture along with International Pharmaceuticals Inc. It isn’t too often when we get together with athletes in a recognition ceremony like this. We usually see them all the time at sports events and press conferences, but rarely see them away from the court in a different kind of awarding ceremony. For the sportswriters of Cebu, it’s another opportunity to unite as one and recognize the same people who we cover. We’re not writing about them in a competitive way this time. Instead, we’re citing them as one group. For the athletes, it will also be a unique chance to meet other top athletes from different events who they rarely see at all since they’re all focused on each his or her own event/sport. They’ll get to find out that Cebu is indeed a breeding ground of great athletes, including those at the world class level. So who’ll be there?

 We’ll see athletes like world champion Donnie Nietes, PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, and Greg Slaughter. We’ll also meet the “lesser known” athletes like Leonida Cambarijan and Evangelito Dale Ceniza of Wrestling. Here’s a glimpse of all our awardees (at random). Softball’s Isaac Bacarisas, Jasper Cabrera, Ben Maravilles, Oscar Bradshaw IV and Jerome Bacarisas. We also have Basketball’s June Mar Fajardo and Aldrich Ramos. Beach volleyball’s Edmar Bonono and Edward Ybañez. Boxing’s Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, Kim Steven Yap of Chess. Cycling’s Niño Surban and John Mier. From Dancesports are Charlea Lagaras and Ronnie Vergara. Football products are Itsuko Bacatan, Alexandrea Gumilao, Arantxa Mari Trebol, Jan Reese Jumawan and Alexa Ceniza. Others include Daniella Reggie dela Pisa, Kiyomi Watanabe, Joel Zaspa, Mary Joy Tabal, Richard Gonzales, Clement Tan, McAvyngr  Alob, Nichole Maurin, Rinna Babanto, Glen Lava, Joseph Miller, Frederic Yuan Chiongbian and Aaliyah Ricci Mataragnon.           

 More awardees are Mike Lopez, Ninolito Justiniane, Ivan Miguel Santos, Lloyd Apawan, Vincent Villa, Zinah Marichelle Bejosa, Southwestern University, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Mark Jayven “Macmac” Tallo, Felixberto “Janjan” Jaboneta IV, Greg Slaughter, Jerick Canada,  Kent  Vincent Moral, Ken Gato, Arnie Christian Padilla, Andres Paul Desiderio, Dave Wilson Yu, Leonard Santillan, the University of the Visayas Passerelle Team, the University of the Visayas Under 16 Team ,  Andrew Velasco, Mary Jean Jade Becaldo, Louijie Tipgos, University of the Visayas, Southwestern University, Rubilen Amit, Warren Kiamco, Jomar Jumapao, Alexis Sy, Xyrra Cabusas, GJ Buyco, Alex Lagcao, Milan Melindo, Genesis Servania, Albert Pagara, Jason Pagara, Arthur Villanueva, Ian Refuela, Junrel Jimenez, Kit Ceron Garces, Jorge Edusma, Vicente Sios-e Jr., John Niño, Elwin Retanal, Dwayne Abella , Kyle Sevillano, Jerish Velarde, Catherine Regina Quinanola, Laila Camel Nadera, Ica Maximo , Dancesports Team Cebu City, Dandoy Tongco, Rafael Trinidad, Buzzy Budlong, Joshua Suson, brother Jan Joseph “JJ” Suson, Central Visayas Elementary Football Team, Don Bosco Futsal Team, Joaquin Buyco, Charles Unabia, Enzo Ceniza, Yves Caballero, Jesse Semblante, Kyle Adrian Ronquillo, Marcel Ouano, Roygbiv Barro and Leo Gabriel Maquiling.          

 Also included are LJ Go, Charles Hong, Joaquin Fernandez, Vince Rojo, Craig “Seven” Aleman, Niño Kime Avilla, Percious Abegail Belicario, Charen Villamor, Karylle Boyet, Hayashi-ha Shitoryukai Karatedo Team, Rafael Vidal, Yawyan ArDigma, Ken Caniga, Lara Jane Flores, Jon Eleazar Adlawan, BJ Pepito, Aiumi Ono, Madille Salinas, Cebu Lady Dragons, Maritess Bitbit, Brian Guillien, Noel Tillor, Michael Benedict Tuba, Frances Dianne S. Lim, Rhey Ortouste, Metodio Suico, Psalm Deniel Aquino, Ichiro Kong, Lorendale Echavez, Team Cebu City/UC Webmasters, Berto Bas, Sherlyn Love Gabisay, Luiji Estrada, Veronica Garces, Mayn Yengele Coran, Zozen Prajes, Wendil Jay Rama, Dineson Wilrej Caneda, Jan Godfrey Seno, Arthur Craig Pantino, Zethley Mae Alferez, Shyne Villareal, Jana Pages, Jerico Bohol, Justin Liam Chiongbian, John Philip Dueñas, Kristian Lim, Lorhiz Echavez Lopez, Simon Solon, Central Visayas Girls Volleyball Team, Matthew Gabriel Navace, Justine Dorog, Ma. Lina Isabel Molde, Gretchen Soltones, Leonida Cambarijan, Evangelito Dale Ceniza and Luis Ansag.

 We’ll also cite Sir Dodong Gullas, Dondon Sombrio and Kick for Life: FM101. To all of you, we thank you for shining for Cebu Sports and look forward to covering you forever.

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Time-out: The BEST Center basketball clinic sponsored by Milo will be held May 11-16, 2015, at the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu Mango Avenue Campus Gym. For details, check out the page “BEST Center Sports Cebu” in Facebook.