Sotto joins list of guests in PSA night

MANILA, Philippines –  Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, a true blue sportsman himself, is the latest in a long list of guests gracing tomorrow’s staging of the PSA-Coca-Cola Annual Awards Night at the Manila Hotel.

An accomplished musician and a popular movie star and television host, who is part of the iconic trio, Tito, Vic and Joey, Sen. Sotto also excelled in sports, especially in bowling where he was once a member of the national team and represented the country in the AMF Bowling World Cup in Bogota, Colombia in 1978 and in Sydney, Australia in 1985.

A grandson of former Sen. Vicente Sotto of Cebu, Sen. Sotto made it to the quarterfinals of the 1978 World Cup, while finishing at seventh place in the Sydney edition of the meet considered as the Olympics of bowling. On top of that, he also won three gold medals as part of the bowling team in the Southeast Asian Games and bagged a bronze in the Asian Games.

Sotto was a part of the Letran Knights bowling team in the NCAA for three years from 1964 to 1966. He is likewise a top golfer who carries a 6-handicap.

Meanwhile, well-known sports journalist Quinito Henson and sportscaster and television host Patricia Bermudez-Hizon lend celebrity status to formal affair also presented by Samsung, AirAsia-ABL-Harbour Centre, San Miguel Corp., the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Nihao Mineral Resources International Inc., the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), Accel, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) as they team up to host the awards night.

The two already served as hosts of past PSA awards gathering. Henson will be making his second straight hosting stint after joining race car driving champion Gabby Dela Merced on the stage last year, while Bermudez-Hizon returns as lady co-host in a similar capacity she did during the 2008 and 2009 editions of the ceremony, respectively.

Past hosts of the PSA Annual Awards included former PBL commissioner and sports broadcaster Chino Trinidad, many-time SEA Games karate gold medalists and news reporter Gretchen Malalad, and television newscaster and reporter Lala Roque.

PSA president Teddyvic Melendres of the Philippine Daily Inquirer said those who failed to get their invitations for the event could have it at the PSA reception desk just outside the Manila Hotel Centennial Hall.

The spotlight in the two-hour rite expectedly falls on Athletes of the Year recipients Francisco “Django” Bustamante of billiards and Asian Games gold medalists Biboy Rivera (bowling), Dennis Orcollo (billiards) and Rey Saludar (boxing).

Joining the country’s sports fraternity in honoring them and the rest of 2010’s top achievers is no less than boxing idol Manny Pacquiao, who makes history by becoming the first active Filipino athlete to serve as speaker and at the same time, main guest of the yearly affair.

Not to be left out in the program are top officials and supporters of Philippine sports such as Sen. Chiz Escudero, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the country Frank Elizaldeo, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia, Smart and PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and the heads of various National Sports Associations (NSAs).

PSA List of awardees:

Athletes of the Year – Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Dennis Orcollo, 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 Ann 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.