Golfer Jennifer Rosales, boxer Manny Pacquiao and grandmasters Mark Paragua and Nelson Mariano head the initial batch of athletes nominated for honors during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night on January 15, 2005 at the Manila Pavilion.
Because of their impressive exploits this year, Rosales, Paragua, Mariano and Pacquiao are expected to fight it out for the Athlete of the Year award, the highest accolade given by the country?s oldest group of media practitioners.
PSA president Jimmy Cantor of Malaya said the executive board, made up of editors of the different national dailies, will meet next month to evaluate the performances of these nominees and eventually decide who among them will be included in the honor roll.
The list of nominees may lengthen, since more Filipino athletes are scheduled to see action in several international competitions in the next three months, led by the national chess team to the Olympiad in October in Mallorca, Spain.
According to Cantor, other sports patrons who did their share to help sports in 2004 will be nominated, including companies which helped bankroll the participation of national athletes in international competitions and the staging of big tournaments here.
By tradition, the 90-member association selects its top athlete by secret balloting a few weeks before the awards night.
In a win that warmed the hearts of Filipinos, Rosales won the Chick-Fil-A championship in Georgia and the $240,000 prize that went with it as she won her first tournament on the tough US Ladies Professional Golfers Association circuit in May.
A week later in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pacquiao fought Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez for the world title, but settled for a draw, no thanks to a judge who erred in scoring the first round of the 12-round bout.
Pacquiao floored Marquez three times in the first round in a blazing start, but the Mexican still salvaged a draw, a decision that was roundly booed when it was announced.
A few days after the fight, the controversial judge, Burt Clemens of New Jersey, said he should have scored the first round 10-6, instead of 10-7 in favor of Pacquiao. Had he scored it correctly, the Filipino would have won by split decision.Not to be outdone, Mariano and Paragua made it a four-way affair for the top athlete award by becoming grandmasters. Mariano became the fifth and Paragua the sixth?and youngest at 20?grandmaster after Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas, Joey Antonio and Bong Villamayor.
Also high on the list of the nominees are archer Jasmin Figueroa and taekwondo jin Mary Rivero, who did well in the last Athens Olympic Games.
The partial list of candidates:
? Glenn Aguilar (motocross), Kenneth San Andres (motocross), Angelo Que, Carito Villaroman (golf), Liza del Rosario (bowling), Purvis Granger (bowling), Django Bustamante, Efren Reyes (billiards), Jun Bernis, Jayvee Agojo (golf), Gerald Rosales (golf), Randy Suico (boxing), Jim Rex Jaca (boxing);
? Mercurio Ramos, Albert Primero, Ryan Tanguilig, Lloyd Reynante (cycling), Jaypee Tuason (karting), Don Bosco Negros Occidental l6 and under team (football), Crisanto Camillo, Gloria Diaz (athletics), RP men?s 4×200 freestyle team (swimming), Bong Alvarez (basketball), Anjou Mauricio, Anselm Castanmeda (X Games), Joey Antonio (chess), Ria Quiazon (golf);
? Jennifer Rosales (golf), Manny Pacquiao (boxing), Mark Paragua (chess), Mary Rivero (taekwondo), Jasmin Figueroa (archery); Roy Vence, Liza Delfin (athletics), Juvic Pagunsan (golf), Francis Bondad (golf), National Capital Region-Air Force eleven (football), Lora Roberto (golf), Cristy Sevillano, Allan Ballester (athletics), Antonio Lazcuna (golf), Tagaytay chess team;
? Wolen Superal, Crystal Faith Superal, Princess Superal (golf), Miguel Tabuena (golf), Dottie Ardina (golf), Gabby de la Merced, Tyson Sy (motorsports), Matteo Guidicelli (karting), Mischelle Bumgarner (karting), Marcel Thenu (karting), Dino de la Paz (golf), AR Ramos (golf), Cyna Rodriguez (golf);
? Rev Santillan (boxing), Rene Herrera (athletics), Nelson Mariano (chess), Arnel Ferrera (athletics), Ramil Vicera (golf), Lerma Bulauitan (athletics), Yolanda Mendigoria, Enrique Rafael Rosales (powerlifting), Al Ramirez (gymnastics), Tonton Asistio (golf), Terence Macatangay (golf), Tonlits Asistio, Debbie de Villa, Abby Arevalo (golf);
? John Paul Gomez (chess), Johnny Arcilla (tennis), Gino Bunyi (golf), James Ricohermoso (golf), Paulina Sotto (golf), Lee Van Corteza (billiards), Marvin Dumandan (golf), Henry Dagmil (athletics), Maristela Torres (athletics), Cassius Perona (athletics), Deborah Samson (athletics), Oliver Barbosa, Enerose Magno (chess), Junie Gatchalian (bowling), Irene Benitez (bowling); Eusebio Qui?ones (cycling), Maritez Bitbit (cycling), Arwin Santos (amateur basketball).
