Basketball great Robert Jaworski, multi-titled swimmer Eric Buhain and track superstar Elma Muros-Posadas lead the fourth batch of athletes to be enshrined in the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.
The final list of enshrinees were decided Friday morning following a meeting of the the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) Selection Committee.
Jaworski is widely regarded as one of the best and most popular players in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was the playing coach of the national men’s basketball team that clinched the silver medal in the 1990 Asian Games.
Buhain, is a champion swimmer who has won several Southeast Asian Games medals for the Philippines and has seen action in the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics.
Muros-Posadas, known as the “Long Jump Queen” of the Philippines, was also a heptathlon champion, a former member of the Philippine national athletics team and is considered a legend for her tireless effort in the field of long jump.
The other enshrinees are football player Paulino Alcantara, basketball and fooball coach Dionisio Calvo, bowler Arianne Cerdena, trackster Rogelio Onofre, and boxers Leopoldo Serrantes and Roel Velasco.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino discussed the enshrinees with committee members which included Games and Amusement Board Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Football Federation Secretary General Atty. Ed Gastanes, Philcycling Secretary General Atty. Billy Sumagui, Philippine Olympians Association President Akiko Thompson-Guevara and University Athletic Assocition of the Philippines Executive Director Atty. Rene Andrei Saguisag Jr.
“I definitely appreciate the work of the committee for this recognition of our sports heroes which is an inspiration to all,” said Tolentino.
The Review Committee included sportswriters from various publications like Ed Andaya (Peoples Tonight), Joe Antonio (Peoples Journal), Rey Bancod (Daily Tribune), Dodo Catacutan (Spin.ph), Quinito Henson (Philippine Star), Tessa Jazmines (Business Mirror), Jun Lomibao (Business Mirror) and Tito Talao (Bulletin)
Details will be announced later. Enshrinees will receive P200,000 each, plus the PSHOF trophy
“It was a journey of discovery. I would like to thank everyone for all their work. It is very enriching for me to be part of these awards. I am pleased with the choices of both the review and selection committees,” said Ramirez.
