Gilas 12, cue masters lead PSA nominees

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas and three cue artists headline the early candidates’ list for the 2013 Athlete of the Year award the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) is giving out during its Annual Awards Night on Jan. 25 next year.

Dubbed the Magnificent 12, the Nationals put the country back on the world basketball map when they bucked the odds and clinched a spot in the Fiba World Cup Madrid is hosting in August next year.

The team of PBA stars coached by Chot Reyes and bankrolled by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan surpassed its modest goal of third place to make it to the world championships as it instead copped the silver medal behind the bigger and heftier Iranians in the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship last August at the Mall of Asia Arena.

And as Gilas Pilipinas marks the first time in four decades the Philippines is playing in the world championship as a legitimate qualifier, Dennis Orcollo, Lee Van Corteza and Rubilyn Amit took center stage in billiards once again by winning one world title after another.

Orcollo and Corteza pocketed the World Cup of Pool by beating the pair of Nick Van Den Berg and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands in the finals, 10-8, to make their own pitch for the biggest trophy the PSA is awarding in partnership with Smart Sports, Air21, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Basketball Association, Harbour Centre, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The two became the first Filipinos outside the legendary tandem of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante to win the single-elimination tournament for doubles teams in nine-ball competition.

Amit, meanwhile, bested a talent-laden field to rule the Women’s World 9-Ball last October, beating Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher in the final. 

The PSA, the oldest media association in the country which counts membership from the national dailies and tabloids and website, will also give out Lifetime Achievement, NSA and Executive of the Year awards, as well as Presidential Awards to deserving athletes, officials, patrons and firms who made valuable contributions in the year about to past.

There will also be Major awardees and recipients of Citations as well as Tony Siddayao trophies for the best and brightest young athletes and the Milo Junior Athlete Award.

The PSA is also sending out its invitation to former Athletes of the Year to the Annual Awards. The former big winners are advised to contact the association through email [email protected] or mobile numbers 0917-5094400, 0917-5435713, and 0932-8464233.