Team Philippines hinirang na PSA Athlete of the Year

MANILA, Philippines — Humakot ng 149 ginto, 117 pilak at 121 tansong medalya ang Team Philippines para tanghaling overall champion sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games – ang ikalawang pangkalahatang kampeonato ng Pilipinas sa biennial meet.

Kaya naman karapat-dapat ang Pinoy athletes na pangalanang Athletes of the Year sa SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards Night na idaraos sa Marso 6 sa Centennial Hall ng The Manila Hotel.

Ang produksiyon ng Pilipinas sa 2019 SEA Games ang pinakamalaking bilang ng medalya na nasungkit ng bansa sapul nang sumali ito sa biennial meet noong 1977.

Magugunitang noong 2005 edisyon ng PSA Awards, itinanghal ding Athletes of the Year ang Team Philippines na nakasungkit ng 113 gintong medalya para makuha ang kauna-unahang overall title ng Pilipinas sa SEA Games.

Nangunguna sa listahan ng mga nagwagi ng gintong medalya sa 2019 SEA Games sina Olympic silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz at Asian Games golden girls Margielyn Didal, Bianca Pagdanganan at Lois Kaye Go – ang Athlete of the Year awardees noong 2018.

Kasama rin sa mga gold medallists sina world champions Carlos Yulo ng gymnastics at Nesthy Petecio ng boxing at SEA Games pole vault record-holder Ernest John Obiena.

“The choice of Team Philippines as 2019 PSA Athlete of the Year has never been as unanimous.  And it was felt the least the PSA can do to honor the men and women who brought singular distinction to the country during the 30th SEA Games is to give them one resounding, united vote,” ani PSA president Eriberto ‘Tito’ Talao ng Manila Bulletin.

Ang Athlete of the Year award ang pinakamataas na parangal na ibinibigay sa PSA Awards.

Papangalanan din ang President’s Award, Executive of the Year, National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year, Ms. Basketball, Mr. Volleyball, Ms. Golf, Mr. Football at Coach of the Year.

Gagawaran din ng Major Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, Tony Siddayao Awards, Junior Athletes Award at citations ang iba pang mga natatanging atleta.