Major PSA awards for NU’s Sy, MVP Sports

MANILA, Philippines—A businessman-sportsman credited with revitalizing a varsity sports program in the doldrums for so long will be honored during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night on Feb. 16 at 1Esplanade Mall of Asia Complex.

Hans Sy, the man behind the success of the National University in the UAAP, will be bestowed the Executive of the Year honor by the country’s oldest media group.

The sports foundation of business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan will also be feted for being a driving force in sports development in the country. The MVP Sports Foundation Inc. will be the first recipient of the Sports Patron of the Year award.

Through the MVP Sports Foundation Inc., Pangilinan has provided resources for both grassroots development and elite programs of eight national sports associations.

Sy, whose family took over as owner of the Sampaloc, Manila-based school in 2008, has been largely praised for using the family’s finances to pursue an aggressive recruitment program that has lifted NU out of the pits in the UAAP.

The success in basketball grabbed most of the limelight, but NU has actually established itself as a powerhouse in other sports. The university will also receive the President’s award.

Sy joins a distinguished list of recipients of the special award that includes Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Pangilinan, Azkals team manager Dan Palami, Association of Boxing Alliances chief Ricky Vargas, and Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Chito Salud.

Aside from basketball, the MVP Sports Foundation also helps out boxing, taekwondo, badminton, football, cycling, tennis, and running.

Pangilinan threw his all-out support to Gilas Pilipinas which played in the Fiba World Cup for the first time after almost four decades. The foundation also helped cycling produce a gold medal in the Asian Games through BMX rider Daniel Caluag.

Caluag leads the honor roll as Athlete of the Year in the gala which counts Smart, Meralco, and the MVP Sports Foundation as principal sponsors and the Philippine Sports Commission as major sponsor.

The other awardees include the 1973 Philippine men’s basketball team (Lifetime Achievement Award), coach Tim Cone (Excellence in Basketball), Mitsubishi (Hall of Fame), Alyssa Valdez (Ms Volleyball), Jean Pierre Sabido (Mr. Taekwondo), and Princess Superal and Tony Lascuña (Golfers of the Year).

Ceremony presenters: PBA, Maynilad, Accel, National University, El Jose Catering, Air21, Globalport, Pagcor, ICTSI, Rain or Shine, and PCSO.