IT’S THAT time of the year again when Cebu’s top achievers in the sporting field during the past year take centerstage in the 37th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Brewery (SAC-SMB) All-Cebu Sports Awards scheduled Saturday, Feb. 29, at the lower ground floor area of SM City-Cebu (across Rib Shack).
The star-studded ceremony that starts promptly at 2 p.m. will have topnotch American swimmer Brianna Leverenz as guest of honor and speaker.
Skateboarding sensation Margielyn Didal, hardcourt giants June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter, dancesport power couple Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Cañeda, decorated gymnast Daniela Reggie de La Pisa, record-breaking swimmer James Deparine, golf’s golden girl Lois Kaye “LK” Go, boxing champion John Riel Casimero, and billiards queen Rubilen Amit lead the cast of major awardees.
Also set to be honored for their outstanding performances in their respective disciplines are Dexter Bolambao (arnis), Mary Joy Tabal (marathon), Nathalie Uy (pole vault), Alexis Sy (bowling), Nino Surban (cycling), Team Adroit Dota (e-games), Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), and Sarah Pangilinan (karatedo).
They will be joined by Sherwin Manangil (obstacle course racing), Aumi Ono (rugby football), Metodio Suico and Jean Marie Sucalit (sepak takraw), Ditto Nestor Dinopol and Diogenes “Larry” Avila (shooting), Daniel Ledermann (skateboarding), Mary Ann Antolihao (softball), Richard Gonzales (table tennis), Rinna Babanto and Aidene Laxa (taekwondo), Andrew Kim Remolino (triathlon), Cherry Ann Rondina (volleyball), Raphael Trinidad (wakeboarding), and Elreen Ann Ando and John Februar Ceniza (weightlifting).
Completing the rest of the major awardees are Aldrener Ygot (archery), Jerish Velarde (chess), the Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. Dragonboat Racing Team, and William Go and Daniel Miranda (motorsport).
Most of the top awardees were medalists during the 30th Southeast Asian Games (Seag) hosted by the Philippines in 2019. One of them will be named the Athlete of the Year, which will be announced by newly-elected SAC president John Owen Z. Pages at the end of the three-hour program.
Several other athletes and sportsmen who have brought pride and honor to the country in the athletic field here and abroad will be given special citations.
Among them are Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III, Noel Tillor, Azlan Pagay and Prince Joey Lee (athletics), Jude Oliver and Marie Rodriguez (arnis), Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. Season 19 champions Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles along with the league’s MVPs in Sir Shaquille Imperial and Leobert Andrew “LA” Casinillo, and the University of the Visayas SBP team.
Also to be feted are coach Isaac Bacarisas (baseball), Warren Kiamco (billiards), Rey Caitom Jr., Joe Noynay, Carlo Demecillo, Mark Vicelles and Dave Penalosa (pro boxing), Pathricia Mae Sumalinog and Bienjemar Codoy (amateur boxing), Jonel Carcueva and John Mier (cycling), Sugbu Mighty Dragons, Raya Tolentino, Roseton Barinan and Dean Ebarle (football), Gen Nagai (golf), Leanne Manning (gymnastics), Overlimit Jiujitsu Academy, coach Rhodee Ann Saavedra (kataredo), Sylvester Ramirez, Jemarie Josh Ybanez, Zion Alexander Melecio and Buen Algono (Muay Thai), RheyJey Ortouste (sepak takraw), Learjet de La Cruz (scrabble), and Roygbiv Barro (pactical shooting).
Rounding up the list of honorees are Jasper Cabrera and Jerome Bacarisas (softball), Jasmine Alkhaldi, Maxime Rooney and Raven Faith Alcoseba (swimming), Nica Garces (taekwondo), Arthur Craig Pantino, Tiffany Nocus and Chad Connor Cuizon (lawn tennis), Moira Frances Erediano and CJ Lipura (triathlon), Crisologo Rendon (dancesport) and Floremel Rodriguez, Edmar Bonono, James Buytrago and Jobert Almodiel (volleyball). (Pooled Report)