MANILA, Philppines – They may have been away from the limelight for quite sometime but their immense contributions to Philippine sports will not go unnoticed.
Legendary cager Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga, former International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the country Francisco “Frank” Elizalde, and one-time FIBA Asia secretary general Mauricio “Moying” Martelino will be recognized with Lifetime Achievement awards during the Philippine Sports-writers Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night.
The special awards will be given during the formal ceremony presented by Milo with Air21 as major sponsor at Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel on Jan. 25.
The 83-year-old Loyzaga is widely regarded as the greatest Filipino basketball player of all time, having led the PH quintet in the Olympics twice.
He was also the spearhead of the team that won the bronze medal in the 1954 world championship—the highest finish by an Asian team in the prestigious event.
The former San Beda standout, already one of the PSA’s Athletes of the Millennium, was part of PH squads that won four Asian Games gold medals from 1951 to 1962.
Until he retired last year, Elizalde was the longest-serving Olympic representative to the Philippines.
Apart from his previous work as basketball official, Martelino is instrumental in renewing interest in women’s volleyball.
He is part of the group that founded and organized the highly successful Shakey’s V-League.
Loyzaga, Elizalde and Martelino join an elite group of awardees which includes basketball coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan and boxing referee Carlos Padilla.
Gilas Pilipinas will be conferred the Athlete of the Year award during the formal rite held in partnership with Smart Sports, Philippine Sports Commission, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Accel at 3XVI, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Rain or Shine, Globalport, Philippine Basketball Association, ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, SM Prime Holdings and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
The President’s Award will be given to pool players Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo, and Lee Van Corteza, and taekwondo jin Mikeala Calamba, while businessman Manny V. Pangilinan will be conferred Executive of the Year.