BRAVE Combat Federation world bantamweight champion Stephen Loman and Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao will be the top honorees for this year’s Kafagway Sports International Luminaries Award.
Loman will receive the Super Athlete of 2017 of the sports awards spearheaded by National Correspondents Club of Baguio set on February 10 at the Silungan Center of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The University of the Cordilleras student won the inaugural world bantamweight title in Brave Combat Federation via a first round knockout of Gurdarshan Mangat at the Khalifa Sports City in Bahrain last year.
His coach, Sangiao, will also receive the Super Coach of 2017.
Sangiao was recently named one of the most outstanding coach in Asia and was responsible for the rise of Team Lakay in the global stage.
Among his prized fighter include ONE Championship’s former lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang and former featherweight world champion Honorio Banario.
Sangiao is also a former SEA Games gold medalist in wushu.
Other honorees from at least 15 sports discipline are senior citizen National Team track and field member Erlinda Lavandia, Divine Wally for wushu, Kareel Meer Hongitan, archery; Sandi Menchi Abahan, ultra-marathon; car racers Carlos Anton and son Inigo, MMA warriors Kevin Belingon and Honorio Banario, Islay Erika Bumogao and Mariah Trenyce, Muay Thai; boxers Carl James Martin and KJ Natuplag.
PWD Agustina Bantiloc together with chess champions Bea Mendoza and Samantha Glo Revita will be included in the honor rites sponsored by the Filipino Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc. headed by Director Arnel Cabanisas.
Presenters of the main awards are Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Vice-Mayor Edison Bilog, City Councilors Faustino Olowan and Benny Bomogao.
Baguio Balikbayan Jossie Delinila, member of the the executive committee of the Silahis ng Pasko sa Baguio is the major award presentor for the womens’ most outstanding international and national athletes. (Roderick Osis)