LAST year’s successful World Cup of Boxing team leads the list of major awardees for the annual Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC)-San Miguel Corporation Sports Awards this year.
Aside from the team, Donnie Nietes and Gerry Peñalosa will also get separate major awards for winning World Boxing Organization titles last year.
Peñalosa defeated Johnny Gonzales in the seventh round to win his first world title in 10 years, while Nietes defeated Thai Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym to snatch the WBO miniflyweight crown.
“This year’s roster of awardees is a merry mix of veterans and newcomers which underscores Cebu’s vibrant and dynamic sports landscape,” said outgoing SAC president Rick Gabuya.
Aside from the boxers, other athletes set to receive major awards are Southeast Asian Games (Seag) 400-meter run gold medalist Julius Nierras, Private Schools Athletic Association national MVP Niño Ramirez, seven-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champion University of the Visayas, Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Willams, Nestea Beach Volleyball national champion Jussabele Brillo and Janis Igot, Seag gold medalists Antonio Gabica (billiards), Rubilen Amit (billiards) and Marites Bitbit (cycling).
Special awards
Sportsman Ricky Ballesteros will receive the Sportsman of the Year award, Manfred Schuwerk will get the Orlacsan Memorial award while Cesafi head Felix Tiukinhoy will be honored with the Presidential award.
Also set to get major awards for their respective feats are Dearlie Gerodias and Dancesport-Team Cebu City, Irina Gabasa (golf), Mary Carmelli Garovillo (gymnastics), Arnold Balais (special Olympics), Sally Mae Siso (tennis), Reynante Briones (weightlifting), Mary Stephanie Agbay (wushu), Glenn Ansag and Danika Gendrauli (volleyball).
The Cebuano members of the successful RP softball team in the Seag, Jasper Cabrera, Oscar Bradshaw, Rogelio Rojas, Ben Marvivelles, Joseph, Ben, Manuek, Edzel and Dario Bacarisas will also get major awards along with baseball’s Roel Empacis and sepak takraw’s Metodio Suico Jr. and Harrison Castañares.
The annual awarding will be on March 8 at 7 p.m. at the ballroom of the Laguna Garden Restaurant.
Set to receive citation for their feats last year are Lieszl Lumindas-Getaruelas, Mendel Lopez, the Cebu Road Runners Club, Enrico Llanto, Dodie Boy Penalosa, Marites Natad, Jannelle Tabio, the Cebu Country Club’s men’s team, Vicente Fernandez III, Allan Antigua, Noel Espinosa, Luchie Metante, Vince Marc Tabotabo, Jacob Lagman, Nino Siso, Nino Surban, Noel Gonzales, the UC table tennis team, Vince Torrefranca, USJ-R women’s volleyball team, Mary Evangeline Agbay, Sugar Rey and Erlando Metante.
Meanwhile, tennis patron, marathon enthusiast and sports columnist John Pages will take over from Gabuya as head of SAC.
Officers
Pages was elected as the new president during the elections last February. Joining Pages are Sun.Star Superbalita sports editor Emilio Migallen Jr. as vice-president, The Freeman’s Caecent No-ot-Magsumbol and Sun.Star’s Marian Gladys Baring as secretaries, The Freeman’s sports editor Emmanuel B. Villaruel as Treasurer, Cebu Daily News’ Brian Ochoa as Auditor and Sun.Star’s Michael Jerome T. Limpag as PRO. (Pooled report)
