PSA Annual Awards to be held at Manila Hotel Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines — The greatest men and women of sports in 2018 will receive the highest accolade in various endeavors from the Philippine Sportswriters Association in formal rites during the PSA-SMC Annual Awards tonight at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, and the golf trio of Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go are the big stars of the two-hour affair presented by Milo, Cignal TV, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as they share together the coveted Athlete of the Year honor traditionally handed out by the country’s oldest media organization.

All five ladies accounted for the four gold medals the country won in the 18th Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia last year.

This marks the second time the 28-year-old Diaz, a silver medallist in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, will be the recipient of the highest honor being given by the Philippine sportswriting fraternity, while Didal, Saso, Pagdanganan, and Go are first time winners.

Top sports officials led by PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas join the PSA under President Eduardo ‘Dodo’ Catacutan of SPIN.ph. in paying tribute to the various personalities and entities who did the country proud with their achievements and advocacies in the year just passed.

Olympian and multi-titled gymnast and taekwondo jin Bea Lucero-Lhuillier serves as the special guest of honor and speaker during the gala night also backed by Philippine Basketball Association, Mighty Sports, Rain Or Shine, Chooks To Go, NorthPort, Tapa King, and SM Prime Holdings.

Bowling great Olivia ‘Bong’ Coo and cycling legend Paquito Rivas are the year’s recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) is the choice as the National Sports Association of the Year, Enrique Razon Jr. of ICTSI gets the Executive of the Year Award, while undefeated reigning UAAP women’s basketball champion National University Lady Bulldogs will get the prestigious President’s Award.