Filipino athletes still did their share even with local sports on a standstill following the outbreak of COVID-19 cases last year.
Sportsmen who are enlisted personnel answered the call of duty and served as frontliners to assist the country as it struggled to cope with the global health pandemic.
In appreciation of their efforts and supreme sacrifice, they will be given a special recognition in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night on Saturday at the TV5 Media Center.
The special citation is part of the 2020 honor roll the country’s oldest media organization headed by President Tito S. Talao, sports editor of Manila Bulletin, will be recognizing in the event presented by San Miguel Corporation and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV.
The virtual Awards Night will be aired on March 28 over OneSports+ from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and has for major backers 1Pacman Partylist, Chooks-to-Go, and Rain or Shine.
SEA Games gold medal winners Nikko Huelgas and Claire Adorna of triathlon, Philippine men’s volleyball coach Dante Alinsunurin and players Jessie Lopez and Ranran Abadilla, UST Tigresses mentor Kung Fu Reyes, and Philippine women’s national team member Jovelyn Gonzaga were some of the athletes-frontliners who went out of their way and served the country when help was needed.
Huelgas, 29, was even given a military merit medal by the Philippine Air Force for his immediate response in helping out Filipinos during the early part of the pandemic.
Pro golfer Yuka Saso will join Huelgas and Co. during the awards rites as top recipient of the prestigious Athlete of the Year award given out by the country’s sportswriting fraternity.
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino meanwhile, is the recipient of the President’s Award, even as PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial will be bestowed with the Executive of the Year honor.
Sports pillars former Gintong Alay Project Director Jose A. Romasanta, ex-PBA Commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios, and the late Ambassador and basketball godfather Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, while to be cited as major awardees are 2020 world boxing champions Johnriel Casimero and Pedro Taduran, along with young, world-ranked netter Alex Eala.
Citations will also be given to 20 personalities and entities as well as the ‘Manok ng Bayan’ award for boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.