PSA honors late sports achievers, scribes

MANILA, Philippines - A diverse field of personalities considered achievers in their own rights will be the recipient of a short but meaningful tribute during the PSA-Coca-Cola Annual Awards Night set Saturday at the Manila Hotel.

The great golfer Celestino Tugot, and former FIDE president Florencio Campomanes are among the 11 individuals to be remembered on this special night when the country’s oldest media organization salutes the men and women who made us proud in the field of sports last year.

Also in the list are late colleagues of the PSA, sports editors Dina Marie Villena, Willie Caballes, and Emmanuel Perez de Tagle, together with photographer John Paulino, basketball players Ricardo “RicRic” Marata, Cesar Jota, and Valerio “Botchok” delos Santos, race car driving champion Jose-Andre Bernard “Kookie” Ramirez, and track and field coach Francisco “Tatang” De Vega.

A minute of prayer and silence will be offered by the sportswriting fraternity during the formal rites also presented by San Miguel Corp., the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Samsung, Accel, Nihao Mineral Resources International Inc., Harbour Centre, the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).

Additionally, Campomanes is likewise to be inducted to the PSA Hall of Fame, along with celebrated pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes.

Pound-for-pound king and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is the main speaker and guest of honor, while personally leading in honoring the long, but compact list of awardees for 2010.

On top of the list are the quartet of Asian Games gold medal winners Dennis Orcullo, Rey Saludar, and Biboy Rivera, and billiards Hall of Famer Francisco “Django” Bustamante, all of whom will be the recipient of the prestigious Athlete of the Year honor.

Orcollo, Saludar and Rivera accounted for the three gold medals the Philippines won in the Guangzhou Games, while Bustamante crowned himself the 2010 World 9-Ball Pool champion and finished the year as the world’s No. 1 billiards player.

Also in attendance to give honor and respect to Filipino athletes are top personalities and sports officials, including Senator Chiz Escudero, Smart and PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde, and PSC chairman Ritchie Garcia.

PSA list of awardees

Athletes of the Year – Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Dennis Orcullo, Rey Saludar, Biboy Rivera

PSA Presidential Achievement Award – Philippine men’s football team (Azkals), Executive of the Year – Dan Palami.

Major Awardees – National men’s poomsae team, national women’s basketball team, national men’s chess team, Warren Kiamco, Miguel Tabuena, Annie Albania, Nonito Donaire Jr, Ana Julaton, Donnie Nietes, Angelo Que, James Yap, RR Garcia, Yes Pogi, Jesse Guce, Maico Buncio National Sports Association of the Year – Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP)

Hall of Fame – Efren “Bata” Reyes, Florencio Campomanes

Lifetime Achievement Award – Carlos Padilla, Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan

Tony Siddayao Awards – Kiefer Ravena, Malvinne Alcala, Andie Unson, John Keithley Chan, Jerrick Mitra

Citations – Philippine Patriots, Davis Cup, Ateneo Blue Eagles, Ateneo Blue Eaglets, San Beda Red Lions, Kenneth San Andres, Marlon Stockinger, Ronald Salvador, Artemio Murakami, Cyna Rodriguez, Mia Piccio, SMART Sports, ICTSI, Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA), Milo Marathon, Araw ng Kagitingan Ultra Marathon, Jerick Ternida.