Top sports images color PSA evening

MANILA, Philippines — The best sports images in 2011 will again be on full display during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards night on Saturday.

The country’s oldest media organization has partnered with the Sports Press Photographers Association of the Philippines (SPPAP) in an effort to produce a lively and colorful ceremony at the Manila Hotel.

Members of SPPAP, led by founding president Ramon Vecina, the veteran, award-winning lensman, will hold an exhibit during the awards ceremony presented by Smart.

Reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and current world No. 1 billiards player Dennis Orcollo are the co-recipient of the highly coveted Athlete of the Year award, which they will receive from guest of honor and Vice President Jejomar Binay as well as PSA head Rey Bancod.

Vecina said shots taken from the coffee table book “Filipino Sports Heroes of the 20th Century,” which captured the finest moments of Filipino athletes, will be on exhibit.

“We’re grateful for this huge endeavor extended to the PSA by our brother photographers as their own little way of making the Annual Awards Night truly meaningful,” said Bancod.

Vecina said the SPPAP will be giving away copies of the coffee table book.
Sports Page, the official publication of the PSA, will also be handed out to awardees and guests attending the awarding ceremony aired live over dzSR Sports Radio 918.

The awards show is also presented by Coca-Cola, Milo, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Also backing the event, which will honor a total of 85 sports personalities and entities, are the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., Philippine Basketball Association, Harbour Centre, ICTSI, and SM Prime Holdings.

THE AWARDEES

Athletes of the Year: Dennis Orcollo, Nonito Donaire Jr.
PSA Presidential Achievement Award: Juvic Pagunsan
Executive of the Year: Ricky Vargas
Major Awardees: Brian Viloria (pro boxing), Ana Julaton (pro boxing),Donnie Nietes (pro boxing), Mark Anthony Barriga (amateur boxing), Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes (billiards), Rubilen Amit (billiards), Jessie Aligaga (wushu),Dembert Arcita (wushu), Dragon Boat team, Jimmy Alapag (pro basketball), Calvin Abueva (amateur basketball), Bobby Parks Jr.(amateur basketball), Jhonnel Ababa (pro golf), Dottie Ardina (amateur golf), Rupert Zaragosa (amateur golf), Magna Carta (Horse of the Year), Jesse Guce (Jockey of the Year), Kenneth San Andres (motocross), Malvinne Ann Alcala (badminton)
National Sports Associations of the Year: Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines (BSCP), Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP)
Tony Siddayao Award: Eumir Marcial, Markie Alcala, Raymond Debuque, Jeron Teng, Rustom Lim
Top Achievers: Marestella Torres (athletics), Darwin Dela Calzada (baseball), Oliver Barbosa (chess), Rachel Daquis (volleyball), Monica Torres (triathlon), Nikko Huelgas (triathlon), John Paul Lizardo (taekwondo)
Mr. Football: Phil Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong
Special Citation: 26th Southeast Asian gold medalists, Ateneo Blue Eagles, San Beda Red Lions, Lea Coline Langit, Julio Catalino Sadorra, Josephine Medina, Ernie Gawilan
Posthumous: Rudy Salud, Josie Bauzon, Maico Buncio, Big Boy Reynoso, Mirabeau Maga, Dave Regullano, Epoy Alcantara, Willie Abalos, Arsenio Tado, Ruben Esguerra, Belma Ignacio, Benjie Sagalongos