Filipino SEA Games champions to be feted

MANILA, Phillipines – Battling through tough odds, Filipino gold medalists in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Burma (Myanmar) will be cited by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) when it stages its Annual Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel on Saturday.

The SEA Games champions lead the long line of personalities and entities that will receive citations for their feats here and abroad in the year that passed.

Gilas Pilipinas will receive the most prestigious award of the affair presented by Milo and major sponsor Air 21 as Athlete of the Year for advancing to the FIBA-World Basketball Championship slated in Spain from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14.

The SEA Games stars, led by double-gold winners Princess Superal and Archand Christian Bagsit, will get their share of the spotlight after surviving tremendous odds in Nay Pyi Taw.

The country won 29 gold medals in the SEA Games, including the basketball title, through Sinag Pilipinas.

Twenty-eight others will also be given citations in the annual affair that starts at 7:30 p.m. with sportscasters Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon as hosts. The event will be aired live by long-time PSA partner DZSR Sports Radio 918.

Also receiving citations are the Philippine U16 basketball team, Philippine U18 3×3 basketball team, National University Bullpups, San Beda Red Cubs, San Miguel Beermen, Philippine Sports Commission, Treat Huey, Erik Spoelstra, Tim Cone, Kobe Paras, Jason Day, Dottie Ardina, Philippine Putra Cup team, Irish Valenzuela and Eumir Felix Marcial.