Boxing, wushu champs lead awards cast

TWO BOXERS and two Wushu–Taulo practitioners heads the cast of sports awardees in the 30th staging of Kafagway Sports Achievers Awards (KSAA) set on January 19.

World Junior Wushu gold medalist Alieson Ken Omengan is set to receive the ‘Athlete of the Year’ plum together with Cordilleran boxing champion Dayer Gabutan and Alvin Tam along with other outstanding athletes and sports personalities of Baguio for 2011.

“The three will be conferred the Athletes of the Year after a stellar performance in their respective filed of sports,” said KSAA executive chairman Nars Padilla.

Gabutan currently holds the WBO Oriental Bantamweight champion defending it thrice this year and sixth over-all since winning the belt in 2010.

Tam, son of former world boxing champion Rey was also a shoo-in for the top plum after knocking out a known knock out artist in JR Edurot for the vacant WBC Asia Council Continental featherweight title held last December 22 at the La Trinidad Municipal gym.

Omengan will also be cited after clinching a gold medal recently in the 4th World Junior Wushu Championships held in Macau last September.

The 14-year-old from San Jose High School in La Trinidad ruled the men’s nangun, a floor exercise using a staff as weapon, to spearhead the country’s campaign in the meet that lured 300 wushu talents from 40 countries.

Another World Junior Wushu Championships medalist Faith Liana Andaya will also be bestowed the ‘Wushu Player of the Year’ after capturing the silver in women’s jianshu in the world junior meet.

The long list of sports awardees include archer Kareel Meer Hongitan after harvesting seven gold medals in the Batang Pinoy Games National Finals in December 2012 held in Iloilo City and she will be joined by his father/coach John Hongitan.

Also in the list are Baguio’s Team Lakay for the proliferation of mix martial arts (MMA) in Baguio City and at the same time, PXC bantamweight champion Crisanto Pitpitunge will also be given the MMA Fighter of the Year honor.

Superbike champion Raniel Resuello will be the top Rider of the Year after conquering Bridgestone Philippine Superbikes Championships at the Clark International Speedway early October.

Former top collegiate volleybelle Cindy Benitez will also be part of the awarding ceremony for her victory, together with teammate Jennifer Manzano in the Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Battle of Champions Friday in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Benitez and Manzano will be representing the country in the upcoming World University Games to be held in Russia. (Roderick Osis)