Ed Picson, ABAP president and veteran sportscaster, dies at 69

Veteran sports broadcaster and ABAP president Ed Picson.

MANILA, Philippines—Edgar “Ed” Picson, a fixture in Philippine sports, has passed away. He was 69.

Ed Picson died on Wednesday after a bout with liver cancer.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Picson’s alma mater, confirmed his passing.

https://www.facebook.com/letran.edu/photos/a.10150290220714485/10160761726969485/

Picson’s longtime colleagues Quinito Henson and Bill Velasco were among those to first pay tribute to Picson, who was an icon in sports broadcasting and a familiar voice in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

He was also a renowned figure in the Philippine boxing scene–first as a commentator staple in the original iteration of Blow by Blow, a popular television program where the likes of Manny Pacquiao introduced himself on the national stage, in the 90s.

“Ed was a legend in sports broadcasting & when [Senator] Manny revived Blow By Blow late last year, he was invited to cover the fights but he declined–he will be missed,” Henson said on Twitter.

ABAP president & dear friend Ed Picson passed away at 11 this morning due to complications from cancer of the liver … Ed was a legend in sports broadcasting & when Sen Manny revived Blow By Blow late last year, he was invited to cover the fights but he declined-he will be missed

— Quinito Henson (@TheDeanQuinito) April 19, 2023

“Lost another old friend today. Farewell, Ed Picson, my colleague from Vintage Enterprises in the early 1990’s. You were always articulate, level-headed and spoke your mind. A great sportscaster, voice talent and boxing official. God bless you, kind sir,” said Velasco in a Facebook post.

Fellow sports broadcaster Sev Sarmenta also remembered Picson’s legacy as both member of the media and a sports official.

“He was truly one of the best anchors to ever work basketball and other sports and was also one of the finest sports leaders,” said Sarmenta in a Facebook post

“During the last Tokyo Olympics, Ed fed me lots of info on the boxers and coaches that really helped my coverage of the Filipino fighters. We will miss him, but as he would always say in his broadcast farewell, we’ll see you around Ed.”

Picson served as a longtime executive director and secretary-general of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP).

Under Picson’s guidance, Philippine boxing reached its best finish in the Olympics with two silver medals courtesy of women’s featherweight Nesthy Petecio and middleweight Eumir Marcial and a bronze by flyweight Carlo Paalam at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Later that year in November, Picson was unanimously elected as president of ABAP.

Before the tip-off of PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 5, a final buzzer was observed at Smart Araneta Coliseum in tribute to Picson.