PSA to fete Ramirez as best sports exec

MANILA, Philippines — The man behind the success of Team Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games will have his share of the limelight in the SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards Night.

Team Philippines chef-de-mission William “Butch” Ramirez is going to be honored with the Executive of the Year award during the March 6 gala at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Ramirez, who’s also the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), is credited for steering the Philippines in regaining the overall championship of the SEA Games after 14 years. 

The 1,115-strong Filipino athletes won a record haul of 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals, the most the Philippines ever had since it began participating in the meet in 1977.

Incidentally, Ramirez was also the PSC chief when the country first clinched the SEA Games overall title in 2005.

Ramirez joins an elite company that has been bestowed with the same award previously by the country’s oldest media organization headed by president Tito Talao of the Manila Bulletin. The list includes the likes of Manny V. Pangilinan, Ramon S. Ang, Wilfred Uytengsu, Hans Sy, Ricky Vargas, Chito Salud, Ernesto Echauz, Dan Palami and Philip Ella Juico.

Ramirez joins the entire Team Philippines on center stage during the awards night presented by the PSC, Milo, Cignal TV, Philippine Basketball Association, Rain or Shine and AirAsia as it will be the recipient of the prestigious Athlete of the Year award.

The sportswriting fraternity will also be handing out trophies for the President’s Award and the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year.

Other awards include Ms. Basketball, Mr. Volleyball, Ms. Golf, Mr. Football and Coach of the Year.

There will be recipients of Major Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, Tony Siddayao Awards, Milo Junior Athletes Award and citations led by the SEA Games gold medal winners.

Meanwhile, sports personalities who passed away last year will also be accorded with a posthumous recognition.