PSA toasts Hidilyn, 2022’s best in rites

The past links with the present in a celebration to remember as the best and brightest of 2022 are feted in the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night on Monday at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel.

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, hands down, is the star of the night as she will be bestowed with the prestigious Athlete of the Year award for the second straight time exclusively by the oldest media organization in the Philippines headed by its president, Rey Lachica, the sports editor of Tempo.

The 31-year-old Diaz-Naranjo—named the PSA’s best for the fourth time in the last seven years—leads close to 100 awardees that will be honored, counting the late great track star Lydia de Vega, who will be enshrined into the PSA Hall of Fame and bosom buddy Elma Muros-Posadas being recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Former Project Gintong Alay director Michael Keon, current mayor of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, will be among the special guests as he personally reminisces the good old glory days when De Vega, Muros-Posadas, among others, were the toast of Philippine track and field.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richard Bachmann and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who will also receive the Executive of the Year award, will grace the formal affair.