Sunday, July 22, 2007 Davao sports heroes to be hailed tonight By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
THEY are the brightest and finest athletes who have brought pride and honor to the beautiful region of Davao.
Davao's cream of the crop athletes will take centerstage as the 13th So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation Awards Night 6 p.m., Sunday, at the Grand Regal Hotel.
Chess International Master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling, who was Male Athlete of the Year in 2006, will be elevated to the Hall of Fame Sunday night.
Joining him in the top class are 2007 Male and Female Athletes of the Year Teodoro Nonato, Jr. and Joan Banayag who both reaped national titles in track and field.
Nonato won two gold medals in the National Prisaa Finals held in April in Iloilo City while Banayag captured the women's crown in the National Milo Marathon in Metro Manila.
Cyclist Felino Cono will be recipient to posthumous award.
The other honorees are netters Ralph Kevin Barte, El Santo Santos and Steffi Marie Dizon, cyclists Hilario Ladra and Dexter Nonato, duckpin bowlers Paul Rabe, Jelly Ann Vecino, Glenn Perez and Allan Tibus, tracksters Philip Ocon and Janice Sinoy, chesser May Micayabas, boxer Victorio Saludar, softballer Maria Cecil Rule and baseball batter Jake Barrosa.
Completing the list are cagebelle Karen Cataluña, arnis player Paulo Juachon dela Riarte, swimmers Carlo Rodriguez and Anna Celina Gonzalez, shuttlers Catherine Kim Mayono and Mark Luther Ranao, sepak takraw player Clven Roy Mercado, table paddlers Gil Ablanque and Jacqueline Caragao and bodybuilders Fernando Pedrosa and Rey Ylanan.
The National SBP Mili Best Center champion Ateneo de Davao University, Adidas Streetball champion Holy Child School of Davao, Southern Mindanao National Prisaa women's basketball, women's softball, men's baseball, sepak takraw, athletics and men's lawn tennis champion teams, Palarong Pambansa over-all champion Davraa boxing team; National Fedbob champion Daciba Phoenix Team, Davao City badminton coach Jethra Villanueva, baseball supporters Datu Uchida Development Foundation and Tokyo Kichijojo Lions, Fil-Chinese Firefighters Foundation, Police Supt. Jesus Unabia and cycling supporter Karacho-Igacos will receive citations.
The SKC Awards Night is organized in celebration of the late sports patron So Kim Cheng.
