EDITORS DESK
Honoring athletes for decades has been a true devotion of the Philippine Sportswriters Association. For the past years, the country's oldest media organization was always at its shining best in recognizing sporting excellence through the spaces of print, online, and other digital platforms. On Jan. 29 at the Diamond Hotel, a handful of journos covering various fronts will give glory to the gentlemen of the court, the heroines of the pitch, from the young achievers to the late legends, and to the star of the night, EJ Obiena.
The annual PSA Awards is coming full blast with a fleet of sports individuals who will be acknowledged for their acts of greatness in 2023. While the celebration belongs to those who have reached milestones last year, some will be remembered for their tales of prowess and kindness that have contributed to the present generation.
Obiena, the 28-year-old native of Manila, is the ultimate choice for the Athlete of the Year award for his unmatched dedication that put him on top of Asia and one of the world’s most prolific pole vaulters.
With a lean frame perfect for the challenging sport, Obiena joined the elite 6.00-meter club in a tournament in Norway, won silver medal in the world championships behind record-holder Armand Duplantis, ruled the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, and finished the season as No. 2 in the global list.
With an eye for Olympic success, Obiena goes for another mission in Paris in July.
The President’s Award, to be handed out by the organization’s president Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star, will be given to the Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team for breaking the 61-year title drought in the Asian Games courtesy of a 70-60 win over Jordan in the finals.
It was a splendid year for the whole basketball team which also bagged the crown in the SEA Games and hosted the centerpiece FIBA World Cup in August at various world-class venues.
For the same reason of putting the nation back to prominence in world basketball, Ramon S. Ang of the San Miguel Corp. and Manny V. Pangilinan of the MVP Group will be honored as Executives of the Year for a partnership that helped reshape the country's most beloved sport.
Also getting spotlight are the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Jiu-jitsu Federation of the Philippine for the twin victories of Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez in Hangzhou, the Philippine women's national football team for its historic appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup, and all the other newsmakers that shone brightly in international stage.
The sports scribes will also remember the late Samboy Lim for his contributions to Philippine basketball. He was a many-time NCAA and PBA champion, and had represented the national team in several foreign trips. Above all, he was admired for his sportsmanship, with the PBA naming the award to players who characterize the same values as Lim.
The PSA Awards means so much for these athletes, from the past recipients and to the dreamers of the present day. Owning the stage for a moment of stardom and distinction is an ambition for the young ones, who will soon be the faces of Philippine sports. In this regard, the sportswriters thrive even more in chronicling the stories of different magnitudes, be it a success or a report of defeat.
The PSA Awards has always been the summary of the year's best, and the organization has endured the test of time thanks to the perseverance of these sporting individuals who have continued to keep the fire glowing and burning. Congratulations, Atletang Pilipino!
(Ramon Rafael C. Bonilla is the Sports Editor of Manila Bulletin.)