THIS year’s So Kim Cheng Sports Awards Night, slated July 26 at the Apo View Hotel in Davao City, will fete two male athletes of the year - Asian Para Games swimming triple gold medalist Ernie Gawilan and Open International de Sitges gold medalist international master (IM) John Marvin Miciano.

Gawilan, it can be recalled, brought home three golds and two silvers from the 3rd Asian Para Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also clinched a silver in the World Para Swimming handicapped/physically impaired) World Series: Paralympics Qualifying Event and copped two golds in the recently-concluded PSC-Philspada 7th Philippine National Para Games held in Bulacan.

The 18-year-old Miciano, for his part, was selected for the prestigious award for also pocketing a boys-under-20 standard gold medal and individual standard silver as well as another silver in Bruges Masters 2018 in Belgium.

Miciano, in a Facebook interview yesterday, said he did not expect to win the award as there are other national and international-caliber Dabawenyo athletes who also excel in their respective sports.

“I am thankful for this award as being nominated by international arbiter Sir James Infiesto. My previous So Kim Cheng Award was last 2012 as outstanding male athlete in chess, thus, I am really honored and happy,” Miciano said.

Meanwhile, dancesports athlete Jeanette Ortiz will be the lone female athlete of the year awardee. She was a champion in the Latin-American Discipline in the IDTA Trophy - President Cup Super International Open Dancesport Championships 2018 in Shatin, Hong Kong, and in the Latin-American Discipline of the 6th Sagadance International Open Dancesport Championships in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.

Her coach Denise Bunayog will be the recipient of the Coach of the Year award.