PSA honors year’s best: Donaire, Orcollo share spotlight as top athletes

MANILA, Philippines—Two athletes who have had to carve their niches under the shadows of Filipino icons grab the lion’s share of the limelight tonight when the Philippine Sportswriters Association honors the top achievers of 2011 in its Annual Awards Night at the Manila hotel.

Three-time world boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr., long the country’s prince of the squared circle, breaks out of the shadows of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao when he shares the Athlete of the Year trophy with billiards ace Dennis Orcollo—who left a fishing village down south to make a name for himself in a sport owned by all-time greats Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante.

On hand to toast the two great champions is Vice President Jejomar Binay, who will serve as the keynote speaker of the event hosted annually by the country’s oldest media organization which starts at 7 p.m.

Invited to join Binay in the event presented by Smart are top personalities of Philippines sports, led by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Richie Garcia, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair, Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative here, and Tempo’s Rey Bancod, the president of the PSA.

It won’t be all about the “Filipino Flash” or the world No. 1 “Robocop,” however, as achievers in sports in the past year will also gain their share of applause during the affair co-presented by the PSC, Milo, and Coca-Cola.

Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Juvic Pagunsan is set to receive the PSA Presidential Achievement Award, while Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) president Ricky Vargas will be honored as the Executive of the Year awardee.

The three reigning world boxing champions—Brian Viloria, Ana Julaton, and Donnie Nietes—are on top of the 18 athletes to be handed out with major awards, even as the Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines (BSCP) shares the National Sports Association of the Year title with Abap.

Long-time PSA partner dzSR Sports Radio 918 airs live the celebration also supported by San Miguel Corp., ICTSI, SM Prime Holdings, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., and Harbour Centre, straight from the venue.

Complete list of 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 Villoria (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, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Ateneo Blue Eagles, San Beda Red Lions, Lea Coline Langit, Julio Catalino Sadorra, Josephine Medina, Ernie Gawilan

Posthumous: Rudy Salud, Josie Bauzon, Mico Buncio, Big Boy Reynoso, Mirabeau Maga, Dave Regullano, Epoy Alcantara, Willie Abalos, Arsenio Tado, Ruben Esguerra, Belma Ignacio, Benjie Sagalongos