Sportswriters’ group honors Team Philippines as Athlete of the Year

They conquered the 30th Southeast Asian Games in dominant fashion and, collectively, will own the spotlight when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) honors them on Friday night.

Led by athletes who are hoping to end the country’s search for an Olympic gold medal, Team Philippines will receive the Athlete of the Year award from the PSA in a formal ceremony at the Manila Hotel.

World champion and double SEA Games gold medalist Carlos Yulo, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, world champion boxer Nesthy Petecio and skateboarder Margielyn Didal—all of them eyeing success in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this year—will spearhead Team Philippines during the SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night.

The revered Efren “Bata” Reyes, a part of the Filipino de­legation to the SEA Games at 65 years old, will be a special guest speaker.

Team Philippines hoarded a record medal haul of 149 golds, 117 silvers and 121 bronzes as the host country won the overall title of the biennial meet for just the second time in its 42-year campaign in the SEA Games.

Yulo, who earned a berth to the Tokyo Olympics after becoming the first Filipino and male gymnast from Southeast Asia to win a gold in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, will also receive the President’s Award, while Philippine Sports Commission Chair William Ramirez will be honored with the executive of the year for serving as chef de mission of Team Philippines in the SEA Games.

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines headed by president Ricky Vargas is set to receive the national sports association of the year title.